Rebecca Perry Blog

The event: Anyone interested in A-list stargazing on Thursday needed to venture no further than Milk Studios in Hollywood, where Gwyneth Paltrow hosted the amfAR Inspiration Gala honoring TV powerhouse Ryan Murphy, the creator or co-creator of blockbuster shows including “Glee,” “Nip/Tuck” and “American Horror Story.” The luminous affair climaxed with a set by Lady Gaga and raised a jaw-dropping $3.1 million for AIDS research programs.

The scene: “It’s auction time,” said Paltrow onstage, “and you know what that means, millionaires and billionaires.” She brought Andrea Fiuczynski of Sotheby’s to the stage, along with celebrity auctioneer Sharon Stone, to coax big numbers from the bidding audience.

The goods included, among other things, a safari to the Serengeti, a customized Fiat 500 Cabrio and a selfie with Gaga, a major buyer herself, as was philanthropist Aileen Getty -- each forked over $200,000 for Timothy White photos of amfAR co-founder Elizabeth Taylor flipping a double bird.

To assist in upping the numbers, Jaime King modeled diamond earrings by Harry Winston, while Cuba Gooding Jr. rose from his seat to shout an impromptu “Show me the money” to a nearby bidder.

The program: Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, CAA’s Kevin Huvane and amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole participated in ceremonies. So did Angela Bassett and Cheyenne Jackson, who encouraged the audience to help launch a social media campaign to end AIDS by posting videos of themselves singing “That’s What Friends Are For,” originally written in 1985 to benefit amfAR.

“All you need to do is grab your phone and film yourself singing your rendition of the song,” said Bassett. “Then share it on social media, or tag a friend or group of friends that you know that you can always count on, and include hashtag SingForAIDS.”

The entertainment: Gaga -- dressed in a soft pink, ladylike gown, draped and flowing into floor-length sleeves -- crooned standards including "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” and “Little Coquette.” She declared her love for Murphy before noting, “There are a lot of gentlemen here, but nobody's offered me a glass of Champagne.”

The crowd: Celebrities and power players included Lea Michele, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sarah Paulson, Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson, Chloe Sevigny, Emma Roberts, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sarah Hyland, Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Donaldson, Denis O’Hare, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lisa Kudrow, Zendaya Coleman, Dylan Penn, Diane von Furstenberg, Barry Diller, Dana Walden, Bryan Lourd and Nina Jacobson.

Quote of note: In accepting his award, Murphy spoke of the fear of AIDS that has always infused his life, before talking of the support he’s had from the Hollywood community, since initially wondering if it would be all right to wear a bracelet to a meeting.

“If I could go back in time and tell my 18-year-old self that I would be alive in 2015 and receiving this award, that young man would not have believed it,” he said. “I have lost over 10 friends to HIV/AIDS and honestly I consider me standing here to be some kind of miracle.”

The numbers: The gala was presented by Harry Winston and MAC Viva Glam and sponsored by Fiji Water, among others.

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Reed and Delphine Krakoff opened their Upper East Side townhouse to toast 30 of the CFDA’s newest members — each of whom had been pinned with a white corsage — at an annual cocktail reception on Tuesday night. The five-floor manse, purchased by the Krakoffs last year, felt akin to a world-class art museum, an observation not lost on the fashionable crowd. In her opening remarks, CFDA chairman Diane von Furstenberg called the home “an extraordinary work of art.”

Yet Krakoff seemed to take it in stride. “We don’t collect with a goal in mind other than living with things we love,” he said of his family’s massive collection of art objects, which included pieces by Morris Louis, Joseph Beuys, Adolph Gottlieb, Alexander Calder, Al Held and more. “It’s a mix of European paintings, abstract expressionists, industrial designers…What’s special is that almost everything in our home, we have a relationship in some way with the artists themselves. [Art] is as much a part of our lives as fashion is.”

Krakoff, who became the CFDA’s admissions committee chair earlier this year, estimated that he’s been a CFDA member for 18 years. “I actually got rejected the first time around,” he said with a laugh. “But those were different days.”

Steven Kolb, CFDA president and chief executive officer, echoed the sentiment. “There was a time where only 10, 11 designers would get in here,” he said. “It was very hardcore. But what Diane brought was a modern perspective…and this inclusiveness. And that’s how we’ve grown the organization. But it’s never easy to pick, and we look at it really critically.”

Other, more seasoned CFDA members, including Steven Alan, Nanette Lepore, Tadashi Shoji, Thaddeus O’Neil, Jonathan Simkhai and 2014 CFDA/Vogue winner Paul Andrew were also on hand for the evening.

“The older, bigger designers have the younger ones, and together we are much more powerful,” said von Furstenberg of the CFDA family, before offering some words of advice to the newbies in the room. “The most important thing is to be true to yourself. Yes, there is a business world out there that demands certain things. Everything exists in every color, and at every price. There are a lot of things out there. But what makes a difference is the emotion. The emotion of creativity will never cease to exist…My advice to you is to trust yourself, your talent and your craft. Be the designer you want to be.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the CFDA’s newcomers — who include Ana Khouri, Sally LaPointe, Siki Im, Gigi Burris, Nellie Partow, Tanya Taylor, Brett Heyman of Edie Parker, Floriana Gavriel and Rachel Mansur of Mansur Gavriel, Shayne Oliver of Hood by Air, Raquel Allegra, Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin of Tome, and Lisa Marie Fernandez — had also attended a new member orientation.

“It felt a little like the first day of school,” said LaPointe. Burris, a milliner, added, “It’s something I’ve always wanted, and it’s this recognition of success.”

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This year's Tel Aviv fashion week showcased local talent to international fashionistas even as a rash of deadly violence had Israel on edge.

Organizers say the event was a great success, both in terms of collections and attendance, despite the tensions.

Viktoria Kanar of GeekChicTLV, a fashion PR company that brought media to the event, said more than 1,200 people attended each separate show - eight a day over the past week.

Kanar said there was great interest in Israeli designs by foreign buyers for stores in the U.S. and Europe. She said the show this year was bigger than in the past - a sign that Israel's small fashion industry is gaining popularity internationally. Even shows by young designers who are not very well known were fully booked, Kanar said.

This year's show took place after the popular Business of Fashion website ranked Israel's Shenkar College of Fashion Design department as the fifth most influential fashion school in the world. Kanar said spectators "especially loved" designs by students from the school.

The show came at a time of escalating tensions that began with clashes at a Jerusalem holy site last month and quickly spread across Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. In all, 10 Israelis have been killed in a string of attacks, mostly stabbings. On the Palestinian side, 48 people have been killed by Israeli fire, 27 of them identified by Israel as attackers.

Security was tight at the Tel Aviv event. With guards posted around the clock, the measures were widely accepted as a necessity by visitors.

Designers to Watch

Shows included a mix of winter and summer collections, with many pieces dominated by flowery prints, while others exposed clean geometric lines, using leather fabrics suitable for European and American audiences.

Two of the more established designers, Dodo Bar Or and Yaron Minkovski, displayed evening dresses created out of traditional Arab headscarves.

Models from the young women's wear brand Common Raven wore earrings shaped into an Islamic crescent moon combined with a Jewish Star of David and a Christian cross.

Another crowd favorite was ready-to wear fashion by Gadi Elimelech featuring a collection inspired by the world of insects. He used a microscope to study the natural beauty of butterflies and ladybugs and then interpreted their intricate designs on silk, chiffon and velvet fabrics.

Other designers included Israel's veteran Maskit as well as Nouveau Riche Dig, Rimma Romano, Shani Zimmerman and others.

The plush interior of the space was in jarring contrast to the construction site outside where Gindi, the sponsor of the event, is building a mall with a focus on fashion.

Motty Reif, chief producer of Tel Aviv Fashion Week, is also the mall's artistic director and said it will include space for young designers to sell their collections rent free.

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I love the idea of summer. It's all sun-kissed skin and beach hair, floating across the sand like a happy butterfly, right? Hmm, only if you live in Instagram-land. In real life, it's more like a sun-sensitive face with wet hair matted down in an unflattering manner and no inclination for make-up. But this season I've discovered a few tricks that are helping me look properly glamorous, sand-stuffed-in-cossie-and-carrying-crying-child-across-a-crowded-beach-while-sweating-profusely or not.

It's all about the preparation. That's what happens when you get older, you have to prepare, rather than waking up spontaneously glowing. Here's what worked.

1. Eyebrow prep

I got my brows professionally shaped which took courage because the last time I did it, it was a disaster, but I was recommended to try Amy Jean at Amy Jean Couture and she was brilliant. My brows were somehow miraculously thicker. Good brows frame your face and make everything more polished. I went on holiday up north and for the entire time, it just made me look done. Finished. Complete. Even on the days where sweat threatened to drown me.

2. Eyelash prep

Sure, eyelash extensions make your lashes longer, who doesn't know that? But what I didn't know was that they give you freedom. I, like 95 per cent of women, don't leave the house without mascara, so it was joyful not to have to put on mascara every day. Pure freedom. And because I wasn't wearing mascara, I didn't have to bother about taking it off at night (more time saved), and didn't wake up with leftover black under my eyes every morning. Bliss! Then every time I swam I had these wonderfully long lashes that made me feel like Sophia Loren. Kind of, not really, but enough for me to feel great. In short, they are the perfect beach accessory because you can get away without make-up - the lashes make you look like you're dolled up, 24-7. I went to Love those Lashes for serious glamour.

3. Skin prep

By this I mean a facial that makes a difference, not just a wishy-washy, relaxing, cleanse-and-slap-a-mask-on job. Not at this age. A proper facial involves some kind of non-invasive treatment that won't leave you red and unrecognisable. Maybe it's an Omnilux, maybe it's microdermabrasion. Personally, I love an Omnilux, it's like falling asleep under a hot sun and when you wake up, you've got smoother skin than you thought possible at this age. Coupled with a Dr Spiller enzyme facial, which is like the peel you have when you don't want a peel, and my skin was ready to go make-up free on holidays. Worth it.

4. Fake tan

If you haven't ridden the fake tan highway because you're scared of looking, well, fake, you have good reason to be. This is dicey business. But I've found a loophole that will guarantee a natural finish. It's organic fake tan. It doesn't work as well as the proper, strong chemical stuff and that's the key! It's a milder colour and less likely to leave you orr-ange, as my daughter says. Bonus: it gives you the even-toned skin of someone in their 20s. Even if that wasn't what you were aiming for, it's kinda nice to know you can fake it there.

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Sienna Miller sympathises with restaurant cooks, as she is impressed by how they cope under pressure in such a "high-octane" environment.

Sienna Miller has mastered the art of cooking fish after taking lessons from top British chef Marcus Wareing for her new movie Burnt.

The actress reunites with her American Sniper co-star Bradley Cooper for the culinary comedy/drama, about a troubled chef who attempts to win over critics with his new venture and earn his third Michelin star.

They both underwent intense training sessions with Marcus so they could look the part onscreen, and the cooking expert has singled out Sienna as the castmember with the most potential to make it as a professional chef

Sienna admits the compliment is "very exciting" and credits Marcus, who owns his own eponymous two-Michelin-starred restaurant in London, with vastly improving her own skills in the kitchen.

"I was definitely a foodie but I would not have been able to do the pasta (make it from scratch)," she tells U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America. "I got trained by a Michelin star chef...

"I was on the fish station (for most of the film) and fish is something that is kind of simple, but really difficult to cook well, so that's what I can now do better than I could before."

Sienna admits shooting Burnt gave her a real insight into how stressful it can be running a commercial kitchen and now she sympathises with restaurant staff whenever she dines out herself.

"I think you understand more how a restaurant is run...," she adds. "It's a pretty hectic, high octane environment to work in."

Burnt was filmed shortly after the actors completed work on their critically-acclaimed biopic American Sniper, in which Bradley portrayed real-life U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle, and she admits teaming up once more proved to be a real joy.

"He always really goes quite deep (into his characters) and is obviously incredibly versatile as an actor so it was great, we get along really well," she gushes.

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DAVID Jones has stood by its decision to hire former AFL star Adam Goodes as a brand ambassador, after several customers posted racist complaints about the appointment on the David Jones Facebook page.

On Sunday Goodes revealed his first professional role since retiring from the AFL in September, joining fellow ambassadors Jessica Gomes and You Am I frontman Tim Rogers in the brand’s new ad campaign. Goodes will also advise the retail giant on indigenous reconciliation.

Several commenters were quick to criticise and posted racist remarks on a series of videos on the David Jones Facebook page.

“There’s no other bore like David Jones. Your new RAP [Reconciliation Action Plan] star is a big sook. Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,” wrote one user.

Another wrote: “Isn’t this the bloke that vilified a 13 year old girl because he is too touchy about being Aboriginal? Bugger David Jones and this bloke.”

But other commenters praised the department store for signing the former Sydney Swans star and Australian of the Year.

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“A shout out to DJ for choosing Adam Goodes. Ignore racist bogans’ comments and be the leader we need in bringing down ugly racism in Australia. You have my support!,” one user wrote.

“Would never shop at David Jones. Until now. Congratulations on securing the services of one of Australia’s finest blokes. Makes me want to shop there,” said another.

A David Jones spokeswoman told the company had hidden some “highly offensive” posts and comments on its Facebook page. When posts and comments are hidden, they are not deleted but remain visible only to the original poster’s friends.

“David Jones is proud to have Adam Goodes, a powerful and inspirational Australian, join its family of ambassadors,” the spokeswoman said.

“We have received significant positive feedback from our staff, customers, vendors and other stakeholders regarding Adam’s appointment and our latest brand campaign.”

The dual Brownlow medallist said in a statement he was committed to using his name to create a better Australia for all Australians and believed the role gave him an opportunity to do this.

“Many months ago I met with the team from David Jones and the topic of whether I would advise them to develop a RAP came up,” he said.

“I believe when heritage organisations such as David Jones have a RAP they play an important role in closing the gap by creating an inclusive society and promoting change.

“When they can use their voice to inspire positive change for the environment and community more generally, others will stand up and follow.”

David Jones chief marketing officer David Robinson described Goodes as “aspirational and inspirational”.

“We are deeply committed to developing a meaningful RAP and thrilled to have Adam Goodes on board to advise us on this,” he said in a statement.

David Jones’s new campaign It’s In You, set to the track Power by Kanye West, is a continuation of the store’s attempt to freshen up the brand and attract 18 to 34-year-old shoppers.

In his first media interview since retiring, Goodes told Sydney University’s Honi Soit newspaper he planned to continue his fight against racism and domestic violence, and to support constitutional recognition for indigenous Australians.

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Tips and tricks to help you boast lovely lips all day long.

Ever look at celebrities on the red carpet and wonder how they got such a perfect pout? It isn't a miracle - it's just careful application. Here we explain how to get the look at home.

Denise Rabor, an international make-up artist and founder of Wow Beauty, is an advocate of prepping lips to kick things off.

"Keep them nourished and moisturised by using a good lip balm," she told Cover Media, suggesting exfoliating the lips first before hydrating. "Lips are skin! Keep them moisturised from the inside by making sure that you keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids."

Courtney Tichman, Director of Make-up Artistry for OCC, supports this. She suggests using a natural product, such as OCC's Lip Prep in Clear available via Love Make-up's website, to keep things smooth. Opting for a product that gives a matte finish will also make a great base for what's to come.

Or take a leaf out of Denise's book and use foundation as an alternative. Once that's done, it's onto applying colour, beginning with framing.

"Use a lip pencil ideally in a similar colour to your lipstick, to line and fill in your lips... this creates a perfect colour base," Denise shares.

Courtney recommends using a professional brush with a small top to apply dots of lipstick at a time to make it go further.

"Start applying the colour with small brush strokes in the centre of your lip first, before gradually working your way out," she adds.

Rub your lips together before turning to more coverage so you can blend the shade evenly. Want to give it extra longevity? Denise's tip is to lightly powder your mouth with a translucent product to help the lippy set, before adding a light coat of colour on top.

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Women may love to shop 'til they drop, but men take longer to shop, according to a new report.

A survey of 1,000 Americans by finance app BudgetSenseApp that examined the shopping habits of men and women found that contrary to popular belief, men spend on average more time shopping in stores than women do each week.

"Most people think men just like to go in, get what they want, then get out in a short amount of time," said Matt Nyquist, creator of Budget Sense. "But men don't always know what they want or need when they go shopping. That may contribute to why it takes men a little longer to shop than women."

Surprisingly, men spend nearly three hours shopping in stores each week, while women spend an average of just two and a half hours. Men are also twice as likely to shop online and they visit more stores than women each week. Men are more likely to spend about $10 more than women for clothing and accessories - spending about $85 per month, compared to about $75 for women.

But both men and women are fairly similar with one particular shopping preference- shopping alone. Sixty-two percent of women, and the same amount of men say they prefer to shop alone.

As for where people are shopping these days, 80 percent said they would look online, if they could not find what they needed in stores. And it goes both ways - 75 percent say they would hit the pavement to look in stores if they could not find what they needed online.

Nearly 80 percent of Americans say they shop online anywhere between one and six times per week, searching through about three different sites before finding the best deal. Ninety percent shop both online and in stores, Americans are shopping online an average of 36 minutes each week, but 58 percent spend one to two hours shopping in stores per week.

Unfortunately it's the budgeting aspect that falls short for many Americans. Sixty-seven percent say they have a weekly or monthly shopping budget, but 75 percent admit to failing to stick to it.

"It's so much more efficient for people to plan out what they want to do with their money than it is for them to go out and spend it on a whim," Nyquist said. "Things end up costing more than we expected, we see something else that we may want or need, and we may scoop out a better deal than originally thought."

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An animal print is a go-to that can forever live in a woman’s wardrobe. Not only will the print always be relevant to women across the globe, but with designers constantly updating the concept with new and refreshing takes, it’s a sartorial must-have. This season, the prints are a little more subdued and a lot more wearable and absolutely not limited to leopard spots — making them a top trend for Fall. Back in the day, these spots and scales had a dubious reputation, but they’re now small, quiet and set against a backdrop of creamy white or misty grey.

“Animal prints will never be tamed completely, but there are many ways by which you can bend their power to your will,” says designer Nachiket Barve, adding that animal prints are an essential part of the fashion lexicon and will always be reinterpreted in different ways. He says, “Animal prints now also have a rich enough history and can mean different things. A few sartorial gurus show animal print as a ’60s phenomenon with shift dresses and knee-high boots while another bunch take inspiration from its opulent and classy ’30s incarnation. A mix of leather and leopard can take the print to a whole new Amazonian level as well. That’s not to say that the leopard ever really changes its spots. It’s still a feisty print. It’s just that, as with leather, skin-tight trousers and stilettos, what’s acceptable and when it’s acceptable changes.”

Quite recently, designer duo Gauri and Nainika Karan used floral textures and dazzling renditions of animal prints, making way for zebras, giraffes and even birds to pay tribute to nature. They presented playful interpretations of animal prints by reinventing an elegant look that’s equally appropriate for work, weekends and evening dos. “We’re used to seeing them on frocks — now flocks of birds are beginning to nest on clothing too,” avers designer Amy Billimoria on the emergence of bird prints. She adds, “You can pick up sassy bird print shorts and scarves, or nail two hot trends in one by donning them with a pair of bird print loafers. The sky’s the limit. If energised with bright colours like acid yellow, pink, green, purple and orange, they can be a refreshing wardrobe option. When choosing your printed pieces for the season, steer clear of too-short minis, tight dresses and crop tops. Instead, look for classic pieces with an elevated edge — a long coat, a midi skirt, or a loose-cut trouser.

If you wish to add just a small dose of animal prints to your look, opt for classic shapes with animal print accents, like a structured handbag or open-toe shoes.”

Talking about the do’s and don’ts, designer Vandy Mehra, director of SBJ, points out, “If you want to put focus on the pattern, you should keep the rest of your outfit subdued. The animal pattern will stand out without being overpowered and fading into the background. Also, animal prints are easy to find but if you’re looking to freshen things up, look for animal patterns in hazy neutral shades. Never mix prints. They will end up competing with each other, resulting in a mess. And finally, don’t overdo it. Strike a balance and note that when it comes to animal prints, sometimes less is more.”

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Being a working woman often doesn’t give me enough time to pamper myself, like I used to during my college days. At times, even going to a salon for a mani-pedi becomes difficult. I recently tried a home pedicure kit newly launched by RichFeel. Called Pedi Care, this is a quick way to make your tired feet look beautiful again in a convenient and pocket-friendly way. Here’s my review.

How to use it?

The kit comes with four different tubes, each for different steps in a traditional pedicure. First, I soaked my feet in a bucket filled with lukewarm water with a few drops of foot soak from the kit. After 10 minutes, I wiped them dry and clipped my toenails. I even cleaned off my old nail colour. You can skip this step if you don’t have much time.

Next, I scrubbed my feet to get rid of dead skin cells with the tiny beads present in it. After a few minutes of gently scrubbing them in circular motion, I washed them off and applied the pack given in the kit. This step will help brighten your feet. You need to keep the pack for at least 10 minutes to see results.

After washing off the pack, I used the last tube with massage cream to moisturise my feet and give them a healthy glow. I also painted my toes with bright red nail polish to make them prettier.

The result

All the products in the kit have natural lemon extracts. Lemon not only adds a fresh, zesty fragrance, it also is a natural bleach that helps remove the layer of tan and lightens your feet. Obviously, don’t expect miraculous change after just one session of pedicure but you won’t be disappointed with the results either.

You can expect salon-like results with this pedicure kit the only exception being, it is DIY. The kit promises to last for at least three pedicures but I think it can be used more times as well. Priced at Rs 300, I think it is a good enough deal as you will spend that much for a single pedicure session if you go to a salon. And doing it at home makes it hygienic too.

Yes, there are a few steps that aren’t a part of this pedicure such as cuticle care and using the pumice stone. You can add these as well but I did not include them and my feet looked fine.

This is a quick way to get happy feet at home. It took me about 30 minutes for the entire pedicure session. And I won’t be doing it again for at least a month.

My verdict

I recommend using this product if you don’t like going or have the time to go to salons.

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