SHORT CUTS
Primitives, the Autumn/Winter 2008 collection from Mic Styling Academy in Slovenia, features a range of shorter haircuts designed to express sensuality and a natural, primitive look. Nordic blonde tones were used to enrich summer hair colors and complement the natural shade. —M.D.
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WILD AT HEART
Christian Livingston is a line of comfortable and fashionable handbags that stays true to its roots with exceptional craftsmanship and functionality. Some of the stylish and animal-friendly bags feel and even smell like real leather but are actually made of PVC. Who says fashion can't be eco-friendly? christianlivingston.com —M.D.
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Case Closed
Lady Primrose Tryst Kiss Blotting Papers are perfect for removing shine from the face. Better yet, they come in this fashionable compact that's also the perfect size to hold a driver's license and credit cards. Refills are sold in packets of 75 sheets. ladyprimrose.com —M.D.
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Rush Job
Featuring eye-catching, jewel-adorned bottles, One Coat by Cosmo is a professional nail lacquer manufactured by Beauty Source. Formulated to provide lasting, chip-free shine for up to 14 days, the polish dries quickly. It's available in 70 shades, including Once in a Lifetime, the rich, deep burgundy color shown here. cosmonailproducts.com —L.A.
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Watch Out
Andy Warhol 15 is a fabulous watch collection for the masses. Available in an ongoing series of limited editions, the collection is based on the idea that we will all, at some point, have our 15 minutes of fame. Like Warhol himself, the collection blurs the line between art and commerce, turning the artist's iconic and lesser-known works into something you can slap on your wrist. 15minutesof.com —M.D.
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FAR OUT
Part of the Gamma & Bross Nutopia collection by top "it" designer Karim Rashid, Teknowash treats clients to music powered from a built-in iPod sound system, soothing and energy-balancing illuminated chromatherapy and shiatsu air massage. What's more, it's got a tilting and sliding bowl and an electrically adjustable seat, backrest and leg rest. gammabross.com —L.M.
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Afro-Centric
This retro-inspired Afro is part of the Paris Chic Fall 2008 Collection from Etherea Salon.Spa in Seattle. Hairstylist Lisa Vann used Aveda products to style the hair. —M.D.
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Start to Finish
The right comb is absolutely essential for detangling wet hair, sectioning hair while cutting and even back-combing to create volume where needed. Redken's Sam Villa has introduced an eight-piece comb set that contains black and ivory combs—use the black ones on light hair, the ivory ones on dark hair so you can see what you're doing. The new i/m Beauty comb collection includes five different combs that take you from start to finish. Tourmaline-infused crystals minimize static and frizz, while ceramic teeth withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees. To order Villa's Signature Series of combs, visit samvilla.com. Or visit studioim.com to find out more about i/m Beauty's comb collection. —M.D.
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GOLD STANDARD
The Fall Designer Series from OPI is formulated with diamond dust to create ultrarich, glimmery colors. What's more, it doesn't include DBP, toluene or formaldehyde. Just right for the holidays, Classic is an elegant shimmer of golden beige that works just as well on toes as it does on fingers. —M.D.
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LIGHT ME UP
Hand-pressed in the Napa Valley of California, Olivina products come from olive groves that are as old as the meandering stretches of vineyard. Made of clean-burning soy wax and a lead-free wick, the olive-scented candles in the Olivina Classic Olive collection reflect the agrarian lifestyle of the wine country. olivinanapavalley.com —M.D.
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JUST OUT!
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NEW FOR WINTER!
Essie Damsel in a Dress
Sensual Scents
Adding an elegant touch to any home decor, the new Moments Waterbead Fragrance Diffusers from Upper Canada Soap are designed to look as appealing as they smell. To produce the scent, luminescent, jellylike beads mixed with a fragrant solution are poured into a glass vase. The diffusers are available in six fragrance and color combinations, like Tropical Pomegranate and Vanilla Musk, shown here. The sets include the fragranced beads, a glass vase, a refresher solution and two stirring wands. uppercanadasoap.com —L.A.
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HEAD DRESS
'Tis the season for holiday parties, which means your clients will be in the market for hair accessories like these. "Hair accessories can easily dress up work clothes by adding a bit of sparkle to the hair," says Eva Scrivo, owner of Eva Scrivo Salon in New York City. "This makes for an easy transition from work to cocktail party." Elegant waves and curls are in, and what better way to dress them up than with decorative hair combs like this one from Goody? Headbands, like the one shown here from Jennifer Behr, are another easy way to dress up any style. goody.com; jenniferbehr.com —N.P.
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Try the Goody Radiant Hair Comb or this Jennifer Behr headband to dress hair this season.
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HE WROTE THE BOOK
Nick Arrojo, the hairstylist from TLC's What Not to Wear, has written a book called Great Hair: Secrets to Looking Fabulous and Feeling Beautiful Every Day that is targeted to his clients but is also a great tool for industry professionals. Arrojo talks about the power of the makeover, why products are important, razor cutting, color, styling and setting ethnic hair and much more. Featuring before and after shots of real women, Great Hair just might be the end to bad hair days. arrojostudio.com —M.D.
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Just Say Wen
After seeing all the damage shampoo had done to his clients' hair, celebrity stylist Chaz Dean created his Wen product line as a means of cleansing hair without detergents or harsh chemicals. Wen Cleansing Conditioners contain nonlathering astringents that strengthen locks and add shine, moisture and manageability, but the line also includes hydrating masks in a variety of formulas, including Sweet Almond Mint. wenhaircare.com —L.M.
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Shakespeare in Love
Inspired by one of Shakespeare's most-beloved heroines, Juliette Has a Gun is a new perfume collection from Romano Ricci, great-grandson of famed couturier Nina Ricci. Romano's first two scents in the collection—Lady Vengeance and Miss Charming—were created with the assistance of master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. Wickedly sexy Lady Vengeance, packaged in a black bottle, marries Bulgarian rose with patchouli and vanilla, while the elegant and innocent Miss Charming fragrance, housed in a white bottle, is a combination of Moroccan rose, musk and wild fruit scents. juliettehasagun.com —L.A.
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Forever Young
To help boost treatment results and retail profits for salons and day spas, Kenny Zahn, owner of Lush Day Spa in Ramsey, NJ, has introduced an anti-aging skincare line for the face and body called älek Essentials. The line of eight products, including the Firming Face Serum and C-Silk Eye Therapy No. 7, contains high percentages of bio-nutrients; omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids; natural free-radical fighters; vitamins A, C and E; and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Both the packaging and the subtle fragrance were designed to appeal to both sexes. alekessentials.com —L.A.
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HOLLYWOOD LAND
In his farewell column, Tom Julian, president of the Tom Julian Group, looks at the recent retail boom in Malibu, CA.
Malibu, CA, the beachfront haven home to movie execs and celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Cher, is located west of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County. There are parks aplenty in Malibu, including Malibu State Beach and Topanga State Beach, as well as notable institutions like Pepperdine University and the Getty Villa. When it comes to shopping, though, only one great destination exists: The Malibu Country Mart (MCM). The 90,000-square-foot destination boasts more than 60 shops, galleries and restaurants, whose buildings' facades reflect Spanish and Mediterranean architectural styles. The grounds mix outdoor dining destinations with picnic areas, sculpture gardens and a children's playground. Here, we spotlight a range of notable shops and restaurants.
Newest to the tenant mix: American designer John Varvatos has opened a signature 2,000-square-foot shop with apparel and accessories for men. Venerable fashion powerhouse Ralph Lauren has one store for men and one for women. M. Fredric merchandises apparel for men, women and children in a beachlike space with a style mantra of "sophisticated yet relaxed with contemporary influences," while 7 For All Mankind tells the ultimate premium denim story.
Los Angeles retail leaders: Locals know and love certain stores and brands. It's no surprise then that some of Los Angeles' most recognizable have also opened outposts at MCM. Robertson Boulevard's Lisa Kline boasts an upscale yet casual menswear boutique with a saloonlike feel. The man behind Fred Segal for the past 30 years is Ron Herman, and his namesake shop has been known as an ultimate specialty store for women. L.A. beach boy-turned-fashion entrepreneur James Perse has cotton and cashmere offerings that match the California lifestyle perfectly.
Beauty destinations: French beauty purveyor L'Occitane feels right at home in Malibu, as does M.A.C Cosmetics, which knows how to put on its best Hollywood face. Malibu Acupuncture & Herbs offers age-old wisdom and beneficial results, and Bernie and Hillary Safire's namesake salon provides haircare services for both men and women.
 TOM JULIAN |
Novel and niche eateries: The options range from big guns like Nobu Malibu—the international sushi sensation from famed owner and cuisine director Nobu Matsuhisa—to Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market, with a decidedly more low-key deli appeal, serving fresh homemade goodies daily. K Chocolatier specializes in a fine assortment of chocolates, Tra Di Noi offers Italian-influenced cuisine, and Howdy's Taqueria is the spot for Mexican munchies.
 MALIBU COUNTRY MART |
For details visit malibucountrymart.com.