Dolce & Gabbana to lower prices
It’s no secret that the economy has pinched the high-end fashion industry. Now comes word that Dolce & Gabbana is finding ways to reduce the cost of its luxury goods.
Women’s Wear Daily reports that the reductions of between 10 and 20 percent will occur across the board for both the main and D&G lines, starting with spring 2010. Examples of price changes include: a dress will cost $1,469, down from $2,295; a leather bomber jacket will be priced at $1,499, compared with $2,296.
Lower prices came about after designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana talked their suppliers and manufacturers into a collective, cost-effective approach — everyone from button suppliers to mills.
“The idea is to peel off the superfluous because there are too many clothes, too many seasons, too much advertising — too much of everything that is tacked onto the final price. We want to go back to how things were 20 years ago,” Dolce said. “This is the only way to save the market and our companies. It’s time to turn the page.”
Read the complete story here.
Best of Sephora awards
Sephora’s faithful has cast their votes. Since some of you want to go shopping, here it is – Sephora’s best of beauty awards.
Beauty addict’s favorite: Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips ($18). Mineral-infused lip polish imparts a high shine and keeps lips soft and smooth without feeling sticky.
Cult favorite must-have: Urban Decay Primer Potion ($16). Eyelid primer keeps shadow from doing a disappearing act.
Biggest beauty breakthrough: O-GLOSS Intuitive Lip Gloss With Goji Berry-C Complex ($22). Reacts with your personal skin chemistry to transform from clear into your custom shade of pink.
Best natural wonder: Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk ($12-$18). Infused with a splash of lily of the valley fragrance in a rich base of oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, and vitamins E and C, Hair Milk is ideal for defining natural curls and giving hair shine and bounce.
Best concealer: Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals Multi-Tasking Face ($18.) Covers dark circles and skin perfections for a flawless complexion.
Best foundation: Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation ($25). Made of only pure, crushed minerals from the earth, bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation looks like a powder, feels like a cream and buffs on like silk
Best powder: Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil ($19). Mineral Veil melts into your skin, infusing it with softness and light as it gently absorbs oil and minimizes the appearance of lines and pores.
Best primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36- $42). This silky primer smoothes and perfects skin as it fills in fine lines and pores.
Best tinted moisturizer: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer ($42). Sheer, lightweight moisturizer with SPF 20 sunscreen and a hint of color for radiant looking skin.
Best eyeliner: Smashbox Cream Eyeliner ($22. Smashbox’s signature cream liner goes on best with a brush for a smudge proof lash line.
Best eyeshadow: Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio ($28). These versatile, perfectly coordinated shadow trios take the guesswork out of the picture-perfect, three-color eye.
Best mascara: Dior DiorShow Mascara ($23). Super volumizing, lengthening and curling mascara.
Best lip gloss: Nars Lip Gloss ($23) Highly pigmented lip color goes on smoothly. Best lipstick: Nars Lipstick ($23). Enriched with vitamin E and promises satin-looking lips with color that stays true.
Best Blush: Nars Blush ($25). Dust cheeks with translucent and natural shades for the perfect flush.Best bronzer: Benefit Cosmetics Boxed Powder Collection ($28). Radian powders that deliver a sun-kissed, goddess style glow.
Best eye treatment: Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream ($59). Gentle, non-irritating formula that works to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve tone and texture.
Best face cleanser: Philosophy Purity Made Simple ($10-$32). Rapidly dissolves dirt and makeup for a deep clean.
Best face moisturizer: Philosophy Hope in a Jar ($15-$38). Creates a rosy, glowing complexion.
Best skin savior: Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask ($52), This burst of oxygen delivers the vitamins needed to bring skin back to life.
Best zit zapper: Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy ($28). Combines the non-irritating, exfoliating properties of 100 percent pure RareMineralsconcentrate with the acne-fighting benefits of natural sulfur to treat acne and blemishes.
Best body cleanser: Philosophy Amazing Grace Bath, Shampoo & Shower Gel ($22). Tthree-in-one bath, shampoo, and shower gel is scented with the lovely Grace fragrance.
Best body moisturizer: Philosophy Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion ($34- $41). Helps to purify, moisturize, and revitalize dry and aged skin with a blend of antioxidants and vitamins E and C.
Best tress refresher: Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser ($10-$24). Instantly erases impurities, toxins, excess oil, and product build-up, while increasing hair volume at the root and treating the hair and scalp.
Best tress tamer: Frédéric Fekkai Glossing Cream ($20-$27.50). A leave in cream that boosts shine and repairs styling damage, while shielding hair from UV rays.
Best sunscreen: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 ($33). Provides defense against powerful UVA/UVB rays and is formulated with the retexturizing ingredient Xylitol to keep skin looking soft and healthy. Best fragrance for her: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue ($30-$80). The liveliness of Sicilian citron, the happiness of Granny Smith apple, the spontaneity of bluebells, the intensity of jasmine, the freshness of bamboo, the charm of white rose, the character of cedar wood, the fullness of amber, and the embrace of musk.
Best fragrance for him: Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme ($16-$67.50). Born from the sea, the sun, the earth, and the breeze of a Mediterranean island.
Best tool: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler ($19). The mother of all eyelash curlers.
Smells like a winner
The fragrance industry passed out its FiFi awards this week. If you’re looking for a new scent, consider one of these winners:
Women’s luxury fragrance of the year in the luxury category: Daisy Marc Jacobs. Men’s, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme.
Women’s fragrance of the year in the Nouveau Niche category: Prada Infusion d’Iris. Men’s, Armani Privé Vetiver Babylone.
Women’s private label fragrance of the year: Christian Lacroix Rouge, Avon Products. Men’s, Derek Jeter Driven Black, Avon Products.
Women’s popular appeal fragrance of the year: Intimately Beckham Women by Coty. Men’s, Intimately Beckham Men.
