5 Fixes for a Beauty Hangover

It happens to all of us: you’re having a great time and you end up staying a little later than you planned—and indulging in a few extra sips of champagne. Beauty Stylist Marine Sargsyan from Nordstrom The Grove has a few tips and tricks that she says will “fool everyone into thinking you got a full night’s worth of beauty sleep.” Here’s her recipe for curing a holiday season beauty hangover.

1. Water, Water, and Water: It’s key for a healthy glow, so keep your skin hydrated. Up your water intake throughout the night, before you go to bed and when you wake up. I add a mist to the mix. Mario Badescu has a refreshing, hydrating spray I love. Formulated simply with fragrant herbal extracts, aloe and rosewater, it’s a pleasant pick-me-up for dehydrated, tight and uncomfortable skin. Perfect for the morning after a long, fun night!

2. De-puff and Refresh: Use an eye cream that will help with puffiness and the look of fatigue. I am currently obsessed with Algenist’s eye renewal balm . This eye cream will not only help decrease puffiness, it will also hydrate the eye area. Alguronic acid combined with vitamin C, caffeine, cucumber, aloe and green tea extracts help to recharge your appearance all day. Bonus: it’s perfect for both men and woman.

3. Beige Fake-Out: Here’s a great beauty secret for a more wide-eyed loo: Use a beige-colored eyeliner in the waterline. Why? This will help your eyes look brighter and more awake. Smashbox has a great eyeliner that really does the trick. Plus, it’s a self-sharpening eyeliner, so you don’t have to go looking for a sharpener, and you get a precise tip every time.

4. Divert Focus to Where You Want it: Start by curling your top lashes and then load them up with your favorite mascara. The trick is to only apply mascara to your top lashes to draw attention away from any puffiness below.Lancôme Hypnôse Drama is one of my go-to mascaras for volume, length and curl. It’s a triple threat and just the thing for the morning after.

5. Bronzer and Blush: Give your skin the look of a beautiful glow by applying bronzer to the perimeter of the face and blush only on the apples of your cheeks. The NARS blush and bronzer duo is not only compact, but perfect for both early mornings and late nights!

—Jeff Powell

via The Thread Blog http://blogs.nordstrom.com/fashion/49316/

Watch This: 5 Ws with Ari Seth Cohen of Advanced Style

If you’re looking for a feel-good winter flick with tons of style and an off-the-charts inspiration value, well, strap yourself into your sweats and get the leftovers platter ready, because you don’t need to look any further.

Advanced Style , the movie based on the fabulously mature women featured in the blog of the same name and the ultra-charming photographer dedicated to documenting them, is not just a 90-minute endorsement of color blocking, print-and-pattern mixing and wild accessorizing, it’s an affirmation of life itself.

And check this: we have your exclusive pre-feature cinematic appetizer right here.

Ari Seth Cohen, champion of ageless personal expression, appears here in the second installment of our 5 Ws series.

Image via Advanced Style

via The Thread Blog http://blogs.nordstrom.com/fashion/ari-seth-cohen-advanced-style/

Listen Up! DJ Suspence’s NYE Picks

Champagne, fancy clothes, noisemakers, sparklers…there’s a lot to think about when considering the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration, but an awesome playlist should be right up there. Rather than leave it to chance, this year we’ve decided to get some professional help.

Spencer Manio (aka DJ Suspence) spends his days creating the perfect in-store playlists for brands you might have heard of, like Vans, Levi’s, Under Armour, Converse and more. In short, he basically knows everything that’s happening in music, all the time. Who better to ask for their top party jams of 2014, right?

Scroll on down to listen to Manio’s top 10 from 2014, listed in no particular order and each accompanied by a personal musing from Spencer.

1) Caribou: “Can’t Do Without You”

“Grab the nearest cat, hit the living-room floor and sing every word of this song to him/her like you mean it.”

2) A.G. Cook: “Beautiful”

“It’s totally cool to cry on the dance floor, if only for the purest of reasons which can only be joy.”

3) f(x): “Rainbow”

“Hack Rogen’s art. And you’re to blame. Darling, Kim Jung gives K-pop a bad name.”

4) Drake: “0 to 100” (Clean Edit)

“Was this beat worth punching Drake over? Sure, why not. I’m crystal-balling a hilarious Seinfeldian dis in 2015 where Drizzy combines Puffy and Diddy and renames Sean ‘Puddy’. Oyy!”

5) iLoveMakonnen: “Club Goin Up on a Tuesday”

“Posdonus Jr. here also got punched in the face this year while performing. Rappers duck down!”

6) Rich Gang feat. Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan: “Lifestyle” (Clean Edit)

“Lots of bad words on this one, but it’s sung in an ancient Moon language so no one complains.”

7) Mumdance: “Take Time feat. Novelist”

“Heavy UK Grime choon comprised of literally nuffin’. Oi!”

8) Michael Jackson: “Love Never Felt So Good”

“Written in ‘83 by Paul Anka. Who cares? I do for some very Filipino reason.”

9) D’Angelo & The Vanguard: “Back to the Future Pt 1”

“Jesus is back, just like he promised.”

10) Tobias Jesso Jr.: “True Love”

“After you’ve realized NYE is just an extra-drunk Wednesday night it’s time to recoil and let that melancholy baby suckle up and think about things.”

Um, okay, now we’re ready to ring in 2015.

Image of Spencer Manio via Kyle Johnson.

—Jenny Yule

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Gifted Giver: Tali Edut of the AstroTwins

We’re counting down the crucial pre-Christmas shopping days with a series called Gifted Givers, in which friends old and new share their thoughts on stylishly spirited giving and receiving.

A day in the life of Astro babe Tali Edut— one-half of the AstroTwins team? Well, it might include pressing ‘send’ on an upcoming month of horoscopes for Refinery29 or Elle, it probably includes doing something with the just-published 300-page, all-inclusive guide to 2015 and it could involve follow-up for the on-air readings they did for The Real Housewives of New Jersey (yeah, really). Of course, it might entail a little shopping too …

The Thread: What would you love to give your husband this year?
Edut: My husband is reopening his Polaroid store, Rare Medium, on 21st and Union in Seattle and he just painted the floor this amazing, vibrant white with a Polaroid rainbow strip down the center. I’ve got my eye out for a great pair of slippers for him to wear while he’s at work so he can keep that floor as pristine as possible in between customer visits.

What would you love to unwrap for yourself?
I adore funky, eclectic or tribal-inspired jewelry in brass or gold.

What kinds of things do people tend to give you? Why do you suppose that is? What does no one ever give you or what do you never indulge in for yourself?
I have an ever-expanding library of great titles that have been gifted to me from friends. I’m always recommending books in the horoscopes I write and in conversations I have with people. Friends know bound-and-published wisdom will go over well with me. I also get a lot of beautiful crystals and candles—always appreciated by this “woo woo” girl.

What would secretly “light my menorah” would be massages and spa treatments of any variety. Or even a session with a private Pilates instructor, oooooh. (Pricey, I know, but a girl can dream.) As a writer, I’m often scrunched up in my chair, ignoring the rules of good posture. Relaxation with a side of musculoskeletal therapy would be the most useful gift of all.

What’s your go-to host or hostess gift, either for a party or for a weekend or extended stay?
Stardust and a great bottle of wine—which we uncork and enjoy while doing the host’s astrology reading. Everyone I visit likes a little preview of what the cosmos holds. It’s a great way to catch up and talk about the things that really matter in their lives.

Visit the AstroTwins site

SHOP: Holiday Gifts

—Laura Cassidy

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Listen Up! Wings

After The Beatles, but well before Paul McCartney became an official “Sir”, Macca had a little outfit called Wings (a name apparently inspired by his designer daughter Stella’s birth).

The band—featuring a core lineup of Paul, his wife Linda and guitarist Denny Laine—generated a slew of ’70s hits like “Jet“, “Silly Love Songs” and “Live & Let Die” (covered later by Axl Rose and crew), but one of our favorite Wings numbers is the timely tune “Wonderful Christmas Time”.

Like most of the Wings catalog, it’s an earnest, emotionally straightforward song with an accompanying video featuring loads of footage of Paul and Linda (one of rock’s sweetest couples) and the band having, well, a pretty wonderful Christmastime. There’s also some weird special effects that might be a little dated looking, but who doesn’t love a little cheese around the holidays?

No matter what you celebrate (or don’t), here’s hoping the season is treating you right!

—Jenny Yule

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Chloé’s Clare Waight Keller on Resort Trends, Paris and the Brand-New Everston

We’ll always say yes to a peek inside the handbags of inspiring women—and definitely yes to insider tips on the best little-known places to go in Paris. British-born, Paris-based Creative Director Clare Waight Keller gives us both, and tells us a little about the newest handbag designs in the Chloé resort collection.

The Thread: What are four things that are always in your handbag?

Waight Keller: My iPhone 6, micro torch (flashlight), lip balm and hair ties.

Chloé Everston Calfskin Satchel

What iconic film actor do you see carrying your newest bag, the Everston?

Faye Dunaway, a woman who has purpose in life.

What other handbags are you loving?

It’s all about small, compact bags this season. The Drew is my favorite—it’s very jewel-like.

[*The Drew from Chloé will be available at selected Nordstrom stores and online this spring.]

If we brought the Everston to Paris and asked you to give us some insider tips to tuck inside it, what five places would be on your list?

1. I love to take friends on a walk to the Bois de Boulogne and take the ferryboat to the island in the middle of the lake. There is a restaurant there which isn’t fabulous for its food per se, but has great views of the Eiffel Tower across the water.

2. Deyrolle is one of my favorite stores in Paris, with its fascinating taxidermy and curiosities.

3. Zuber is an iconic and very beautiful paint and wallpaper store where they create exquisite hand-painted papers.

4. Du pain et Des Idées for its fabulous pastries and bread!

5. Roseval is a fantastic, low-key and cozy neighborhood restaurant, off the beaten track.

SHOP: Chloé

—Jeff Powell

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Gifted Giver: Fashion Icon Caroline Issa

We’re counting down the crucial pre-Christmas shopping days with a series called Gifted Givers, in which friends old and new share their thoughts on stylishly spirited giving and receiving.

Is it February yet? Okay, okay. One exciting thing at a time, sure. But as soon as the holidays are over, we’re officially living for the release of fashion editor Caroline Issa’s exclusive-to-Nordstrom line . In the meantime, we’ve got her shopping list.

The Thread: What would you love to give your best friend this year?
Issa: I’d give him this new drone —definitely a sophisticated play thing but I know it’ll be hours and hours, perhaps weeks and weeks, of fun and will bring out the hidden director in him!

What would you love to unwrap for yourself?
I wouldn’t be averse to a fun and flirty dress from Jason Wu —no one can ever have enough Little Black Dresses and this one is a great one!

What kinds of things do people tend to give you? Why do you suppose that is? What does no one ever give you or what do you never indulge in for yourself?
People tend to give me stationery , which I’m a bit obsessed with—postcards, note cards, envelopes and sketchbooks. I probably get a lot more than I’m able to consume in a year, but I’ll rifle through them and dream of the letters I’ll write, of the novellas I’ll never actually put down on paper, and the postcards to remind those I love that I’m thinking of them that do, in fact, get written every once in a while.

What’s your go-to host or hostess gift, either for a party or for a weekend or extended stay?
I tend to stock up on candles to give as a gift to my host, you can never have enough!

Follow Caroline Issa on Instagram

SHOP: Holiday Gifts

—Laura Cassidy

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Gifted Giver: Beauty Icon Laura Mercier

We’re counting down the crucial pre-Christmas shopping days with a series called Gifted Givers , in which friends old and new share their thoughts on stylishly spirited giving and receiving.

Author, cosmetics mogul and makeup artist Laura Mercier is a beloved name in the beauty industry and in the celeb world—her client list has included Madonna, Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker . French-born Mercier splits her time between Provence and New York City and may be best known—or at least beloved by countless women—for her simple ‘Flawless Face ’ approach to enhancing natural beauty. Another thing to love her for: this peek at her list of holiday favorites—including some Parisian chocolates that we’ll be trying tout de suite!!

The Thread: What would you love to give the people on your gift list this year?

I’m giving my loved ones the new Laura Mercier Golden Honey Musk Signature Gourmande Candle —it’s one of my favorite fragrances. For a more personal gift, the Verbena Infusion Signature Set has a crisp, green fragrance. I also love giving scarves —you can never have too many.

What would you love to unwrap for yourself?

I love everything. Gifts for the home are always lovely. I also collect Bakelite bracelets and can never have enough, so that’s always a nice gift.

What kinds of things do people tend to give you? Why?

I receive very different gifts all the time. Many people do give me scarves; it’s an easy gift to give me, since I’m often wearing one or have one with me.

What’s your go-to host or hostess gift?

Flowers or wine are always nice, and I like to personalize gifts to my host. If I know someone’s taste in fragrance, candles are a lovely gift. Sometimes I’ll bring a delicious dessert from a French patisserie or, for the chocolate lover, I like to bring chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat, as many people don’t often go there for themselves. For the red wine devotee, I bring wines from Monachino, Italy. I’ve been to the village, and I know how unique, special and wonderful it is.

SHOP: Holiday Gifts

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New! Nordstrom-Exclusive Dress from ‘House of DVF’

Our Women’s Buying Team on House of DVF and the winning design.

The Diane von Furstenberg reality show, House of DVF—in which a hopeful group of young women vie to become the brand’s global ambassador—has taken us up, down and sideways. From new friendships and sad goodbyes to surprise twists and a $1,o00 dress that went for a swim, one thing remains constant: the gracious spirit and wisdom of Furstenberg herself. It’s no wonder the prize position is such a coveted one.

Did you see us on last night’s episode?. Part of our women’s buying team was on set representing Nordstrom and had the opportunity to provide feedback to the would-be ambassadors about their designs and fashion—not to mention help select a winning dress to be sold exclusively at Nordstrom in stores and online beginning this March. What was it like, behind the scenes?

Women’s Direct Buyer Jen Francis tells The Thread, “The filming felt very natural—especially with DVF herself. She was very real, genuine and spoke her mind. The way she empowers women is inspiring. When we met the final contestants, they each had a personal story about growing up shopping at or working at Nordstrom. We picked the dress as the winner as it was versatile, feminine and represented DVF as a brand. These are all filters we consider for our customer at Nordstrom and the partnership with DVF.”

Generous to the end, DVF decided to help make a version of the winning dress with fabric her team had in house. The winning blue update to Furstenberg’s iconic wrap dress will be available this March, but she and the team made the exact dress design in cheetah print and black available exclusively to customers at Nordstrom right now.

SHOP: Diane von Furstenberg

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Listen Up! Katie Gately

It’s the time of year when one is aurally bombarded by holiday tunes—whether you’re in a doctor’s waiting room or shopping at the market. Don’t get us wrong, we love those seasonal songs, from the classic to the contemporary, but sometimes we want to switch them off and switch things up.

This week we stumbled across exactly what we were looking for: “Pivot” from L.A.-based artist Katie Gately. The three-minute “song” (it’s actually an excerpt from a longer piece available on a split with Gately and Tlaotlon) is a sonic marvel—it’s lush and beautiful, but with a sufficient amount of experimental quirk that it truly stands apart. And, weirdly, it doesn’t seem like it would be that out of place in a holiday mix.

The video, from animator/designer/director Louis Morton, follows suit with painstakingly created visuals that evoke the same gorgeously layered vibe of Gately’s musical endeavor. The resulting combo is simply stunning.

Although a working sound designer for films, Gately only recently forayed into making her own music and has only a handful of other releases. We’re hoping she’s the prolific type.

Image via Fat Cat Records.

—Jenny Yule

via The Thread Blog http://ift.tt/1zJlzqT

Gifted Giver: Crystal Nicodemus, our Global Trend Reporter

We’re counting down the crucial pre-Christmas shopping days with a series called Gifted Givers, in which friends old and new share their thoughts on stylishly spirited giving and receiving.

Some people have insanely cool jobs, and we think our Global Trend Reporter, Crystal Nicodemus happens to be one of them. You probably know her best from our street style reports wherein she uses her keen eye at Fashion Week to snap the most inspiring looks, but did you know she actually does that all year long? This super-nice, super-talented Pacific Northwesterner travels to fashion capitals, music fests and random places the world over to stalk style locals and capture what’s trending globally with her trusty camera—plus getting style stalked herself . When not gallivanting abroad hard at work, Crystal is back at home in Portland spending time with her fiancé and hairless Sphinx, Wednesday—see more of Crystal’s world (mostly her grumpy cat) on Instagram.

The Thread: What would you love to give your fiancé this year?

My fiancé (Kevin) and I always plan a special trip together as our main gift for the holidays. This year, we’re going to organize a road trip from Washington D.C. to New Orleans, with as many stops along the way as we possibly can. I’ve never been to Dollywood or Graceland, so those are must-sees! Kevin and I love the Smithsonian museums, too, and we haven’t been since we were little kids.

However, I can’t resist putting actual presents under the tree, so I’ve got a little list going for him. Kevin has been hinting around some Allen Edmonds brogues that would look great with his new Topman suit . Maybe Santa will come through for him. ☺ I love Northwest-favorite Danner boots , too. A pair of those rugged classics would be great to get him through the winter season and beyond.

What would you love to unwrap for yourself?

I have a fantasy list and a realistic one. If I could unwrap anything, regardless of price, I’d go all designer, all the way! The Saint Laurent ‘Cat’ booties , Stella McCartney’s ‘The 70′s Flare’ jeans , 6397’s amazing denim jumpsuit …I could go on and on! I also love everything that Olivia Kim sources for Nordstrom’s Pop-In shops . Seriously, every time I go in, I want to buy the whole lot! More realistically, I’d love to get some new beauty products, especially some Tom Ford lipsticks , which are like little boxes of art. I wouldn’t mind a few more Diptyque candles for my house, either!

What kinds of things do people tend to give you? Why do you suppose that is? And what does no one ever give you, or what do you never indulge in for yourself?

People tend to give me books, which is perfect! I love pretty much every genre, and my nightstand is always overflowing, much to Kevin’s chagrin. This year, I’d love to see ‘Women in Clothes’ or a classic edition of ‘Lonesome Dove’ under the tree. I’ve always been a big reader and through the years, it’s become a family tradition to surprise me with new titles. Another funny gifting tradition we have is slippers. Kevin gets me a new pair every year, which sounds lame, but is actually great for both of us, because I am always putting my frozen feet on him!

I love shopping and it’s part of my job, which is amazing. I don’t really shy away from purchasing whatever I want, within reason. However, one sector I don’t really indulge in is dresses. If I were feeling adventurous, I would love to treat myself to a sophisticated and chic dress from the likes of Erdem , Christopher Kane , or Alexander McQueen . Maybe this is the year!

What’s your go-to host or hostess gift, either for a party or for a weekend or extended stay?

I love finding the perfect gifts for friends. Hostess gifts are such a fun excuse to take a moment and really think about what kind of token would make your friend smile. I find that small plants in beautiful ceramic pots or a creative bouquet always go over well. Hand-printed tea towels, exotic teas, and handmade baking kits are also fun. During the holidays, though, I pick out a special tree ornament and tie it around a bottle of bourbon. Who doesn’t need a stiff drink after all that holiday shopping?

SHOP: Holiday Gifts

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Listen Up! Ex Hex

TGIF. A popular sentiment 52 times a year, but some weeks you really, truly mean it. Those are the Fridays you want to dust off the workweek and just have FUN.

You’ll need a soundtrack for that. Might we suggest Ex Hex?

Even if you don’t fancy yourself a rocker, their polished power-pop is infectious enough that we’re reasonably confident you’ll at least be tapping your feet, although we’d rather you dance. With us.

If you need a little more incentive to move your body, look at how much fun the band is having in this M. Wartella-directed video for “Waterfall”. Party clothes, flying saucers, laser beams of transformative coolness—that is how you do Friday. And the whole weekend, for that matter.

Rips, the debut record from Ex Hex, is out now on Merge Records and the band will tour the southern U.S. in January.

Image via Merge Records.

—Jenny Yule

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Listen Up! Antony and the Johnsons

Everyone knows Times Square for being very bright and very loud—a tourist attraction on par with Las Vegas in terms of the sheer wattage being gobbled up. But did you know that every day, just before 12am, it’s also an open-air art exhibit?

Since 2012, the Times Square Advertising Coalition has partnered with Times Square Arts on Midnight Moment : the “largest coordinated effort in history by the sign operators in Times Square to display synchronized, cutting-edge creative content on electronic billboards and newspaper kiosks throughout Times Square every night.”

Sounds pretty cool, right? And starting December 1, the featured experience is a collaboration between the ridiculously beautiful Antony and the Johnsons and multimedia artist Charles Atlas, called “You Are My Sister (TURNING)”.

If you’re not familiar with Antony Hegarty, here’s a quick primer: he’s a stalwart of the NY art and music scene, having worked with luminaries like Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed and Boy George, the latter of whom contributes vocals to the track. Hegarty’s voice is unmistakable: poignant and wavering with a vibrato that’s incredibly affecting (rather than affected) thanks to the authentic emotion behind it. Basically he can make any song sound reverent, even a booty-shaking hit from Beyoncé.

The video, created by Charles Atlas specifically for Midnight Moment, is a visual paraphrasing from a larger performance piece that he and the band performed for international audiences called TURNING .

“You Are My Sister (TURNING)” runs from 11:57pm to midnight, December 1 through December 30 (gotta drop that ball on New Year’s Eve!).

Image via PICA.

—Jenny Yule

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