YIN AND YANG
Onita Maison-Luisi of Marlboro, NJ, one of the winners of the 2007 John Paul Mitchell Systems Photo Shoot Competition, had the opportunity to work with Paul Mitchell Editorial Director Lucie Doughty, who coached her through the process. Inspiration for Maison-Luisi's Yin/Yang Trilogy collection came from training new stylists at her multi-ethnic salon, CHiPS. "This collection is designed to show the duality of textures and how they can simultaneously yield the same intended, harmonious look," she says. —M.D.
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Pure Intentions
Help cleanse the world—one bar of soap at a time. Profits from Noodle & Boo's new Believe Honey Bar go to the Raise Your Hand Campaign, an endeavor to fund water purification systems for children living in small villages in third-world countries, starting with Heeraraa, Ethiopia. These charming shea butter soaps definitely clean more than just your hands. noodleandboo.com —R.A.
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STRING ALONG
When 16-year-old Nicole Ballard made a keepsake bracelet for herself from a boyfriend's old guitar string and pick, her friends fell in love with them and the requests began pouring in. To keep up with the demand, she founded StrummWear in 2007. The unique bracelets, which are handmade with real guitar strings and picks, are packaged in CD cases and come in a variety of colors and guitar pick designs from Metal Mayhem to Hello Kitty to Fender Classics. strummwear.com —M.D.
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Wearable Art
Nicole Dobrzanski loves the idea of wearing and layering art, and her jewelry collection allows you to do just that. The name of her company, Elizaldi, was derived from the beautiful Basque name of her grandmother, Grace Elizaldi. "The Basque country is located between Spain and France and encompasses a diverse mingling of culture and art," Dobrzanski says. "We aim to reflect these same qualities in our Mia line." Each pendant in the Mia line contains a vintage or antique reproduction of some of the most beautiful stamps in the world. Shown here is one from Hungary, but the collection includes stamps from 64 other countries. elizaldi.com —M.D.
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The Mondo chair from Belvedere makes a timeless statement. belvedere.com
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SHORT CUT
British supermodel Agyness Deyn's short, choppy haircut is still turning heads on the runway. To get the same deconstructed definition shown here at Versace—Guido Palau styled her hair for Redken—try Redken Electric Wax 11 shine fused texturizer. —M.D.
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WHAT'S ON YOUR IPOD?
We asked Joico stylist George Papanikolas, who works with celebrity clients at the Chris McMillan Salon in Beverly Hills, CA, what he's been listening to.
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"With Every Heartbeat" by Kleerup featuring Robyn. "This is a perfect summer song; plus, I'm obsessed with the Swedish pop singer's platinum, asymmetrical haircut!"
Sign of the Times
The peace sign is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. First introduced in 1958 to promote nuclear disarmament, the ubiquitous symbol became synonymous with the anti-war movement in the 1960s. Paul Mitchell's John Paul DeJoria has been flashing the peace sign ever since. Now there's a new book on the topic called PEACE: The Biography of a Symbol (National Geographic, 2008) by Ken Kolsbun with Michael S. Sweeney. Says Kolsbun, "Each iteration of the symbol seems unique, because it bears the artistic touch of the person replicating it." —K.D.
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Brow Wow!
With a flagship boutique in Beverly Hills, CA, and another at Kim Vo's salon at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Billion Dollar Brows offers eyebrow-shaping services, as well as a complete line of products, including Brow Boost to condition over-plucked brows, brow powders, gels, pencils, tweezers and brushes. Not only are brow-shaping classes offered at the company's academy in Beverly Hills, but estheticians are being offered the opportunity to open a Billion Dollar Brows booth at their salons. E-mail [email protected] for more information. —M.D.
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Beauty Boutique
Stepping inside the Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy on Hollywood Boulevard is an unexpected surprise, but the sumptuous and whimsical decor actually reflects the aesthetic of Perdis himself, who favors a rich palette of colors. To sign up for a class, visit napoleonperdis.com. —M.D.
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Bag it
Pack the multipocket Ibiza Tote from new online retailer JACK WEBSTER with beverages, snacks and sunscreen—perfect for a day on the boat, beach or picnic blanket. The outside pockets can be used to organize tools of the trade, such as corkscrews and utensils, and the spacious, plastic-lined interior prevents spills from spoiling your picnic. jack-webster.com —L.A.
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Belvedere collaborated with Nick Arrojo to create this styling chair. His insignia is on the back.
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Kiss-Proof Color
Users beware: Bloom's latest lip products will leave lips looking luscious and ultrakissable. Bloom's new Lip Plump Colour contains Maxi Lip, an innovative ingredient that hydrates lips and restores collagen to smooth out fine lines that can appear around lips. Or you can update your look for the upcoming fashion season with Bloom's revolutionary Lip Stain, which comes with a sculptured tip so you can effortlessly glide on sheer, matte, semipermanent color that lasts all day. So go on—kiss and tell. bloomcosmetics.com —R.A.
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MAN ON FIRE
Men's grooming line Baxter of California is blazing a new trail in home fragrances with the introduction of Flammable, a series of candles with a masculine look and smell. Produced in partnership with Joya, the three soy wax-based candles—Cassis Noir, Jasmin Noir and Tubereuse Noir—are housed in glass containers inspired by a single-malt lowball tumbler. baxterofcalifornia.com —L.M.
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That's a Wrap
Great as a retail item or for in-salon use to keep hair out of clients' faces during facials or makeup application, Tassi is a machine-washable terry cloth hair wrap that goes on in three easy steps. Created by Shawna Ellsworth, Tassi keeps any hair length and style securely away from the face and is available in 12 colors, including white, soft pink, powder blue, tangerine and black. tassicompany.com —N.P.
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Sweet Havana
The vibrant social culture of 1950s Havana, Cuba, is the inspiration for ME! Bath's new line of Bath Ice Creams called Havana Nights. The handmade bath fizzes, which contain essential oils of jojoba seed, sunflower and sweet almond, come in three flavors: Mint Mojito, a refreshing combination of mint, lime, sugar and rum that Ernest Hemingway made popular in Old Havana; Café con Leche, an aroma of bold coffee combined with hot milk; and Havana Banana, a sweet scent of banana that evokes the sensation of eating fried plantains on the Bay of Havana. mebath.com —L.A.
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NEW YOK MINUTE
Tom Julian is president of the Tom Julian Group, a business enterprise that combines global vision and strategy to create innovative branding solutions. This month, he looks at what's happening in Lower Manhattan.
Lower Manhattan is undergoing a transformation into the "New Downtown." In the past several decades, the triangle tip of Manhattan—north of Battery Park to the Hudson River and the East River—has been known for such distinct structures as the Woolworth Building, City Hall, Trinity Church and the World Trade Center. Today, you can still find the Charging Bull in Bowling Green and see the historic fountain and gas lanterns adorning City Hall Park, but the area is fast becoming a destination. Summer is the perfect time to explore the area.
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River to River Festival. Considered one of the city's largest free arts festivals, the River to River Festival is staged at more than 10 venues from June through September. The mission is "to produce a world-class performing arts festival with a broad sweep of programming and free admission in order to enhance the vitality of cultural life in Lower Manhattan." Key performance locations include South Street Seaport, Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, 55 Water Street, Zuccotti Park and the Castle Clinton National Monument. rivertorivernyc.com
Museums. The new Sports Museum of America at 26 Broadway showcases more than two dozen exhibits in galleries that feature videos, interactive components and artifacts. Also in the area: the African Burial Ground National Monument at 290 Broadway, the National Museum of the American Indian at 1 Bowling Green and the Museum of Jewish Heritage at 36 Battery Place. sportsmuseum.com; africanburialground.gov; nmai.si.edu; mjhnyc.org
Hotels. Business travelers appreciate the New York Marriott Downtown, the Millennium Hilton, The Wall Street Inn and the Embassy Suites Hotels, but those in-the-know head to the Ritz-Carlton at 2 West Street for Rise, a rooftop terrace on the 14th floor, for cocktails and small bites with a panoramic view of New York Harbor.
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Stone Street. This historic landmark street with cobblestones and rustic storefronts from the 17th century has been transformed into a fresco backdrop for such notable restaurants and bars as Brouwers of Stone Street, Ulysses', Adrienne's Pizzabar and Stone Street Tavern.
Shopping. Wall Street is the latest destination for several luxury brands, including Tiffany & Co., Canali, Thomas Pink and Hermès (around the corner on Broad Street). When it comes to discount shopping, Century 21 Department Store is the place for fashion finds.