Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Although Mission Impossible III debuted as the number one movie this past weekend, ticket sales were well below industry expectations and lower than Paramount’s Mission: Impossible II which debuted six years ago at $57.8 million. Box office numbers for M:I 3 came in at roughly $40 million, $10 million lower than M:I 2.

Industry experts are wondering whether Tom Cruise’s erratic behavior in the past year was responsible for the lower numbers. The tabloid buzz over his relationship with actress Katie Holmes and the birth of their daughter, Cruise’s opinion’s on Scientology and psychiatry, down to the infamous couch jumping on Oprah Winfrey’s set seemed to have left fans with an “I’m over it” type of attitude.

“Expectations were really high for this film. I think it’s a good number, but people were obviously expecting better numbers,” said Paul Dergarbedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relarions. “There’s a lot to be said for how a star’s public persona can affect a movie’s box office.”

RV came in second in ticket sales at $11.1 million and American Haunting landed at number 3 with $6.4 million.

This spring, the perfect makeup palette is filled with vibrant colors. Achieving the season's hottest trends, including pink berry lips, is easy with tips from the experts. Renowned makeup artist Carmindy, from TLC's "What Not To Wear," shares her favorites:

Pink Berry Lips: This spring, femininity ruled the fashion runways and pink berry lips were a must-have. The key to achieving this look is to make lips appear as though they are naturally stained a rich juicy shade of berry. Dab a Q-tips cotton swab into the berry shade of lip color and apply to your lips so the edges are soft and the color is muted. Prevent lip color from bleeding by dipping them into translucent loose powder and applying powder along the outer edge of lips. The powder will help the lip color stay through the night.

Water Works: Aqua blues and sea foam greens are the hottest eye shadow hues of the season and can easily help update your look. Use a Q-tips cotton swab to mix multiple bright-colored eye shadows and to softly apply them so colors don't appear too harsh. Then, dab light pink or white shimmer in the corner of the eye to brighten and lighten up your entire look. And don't worry about washing your brushes: Q-tips are conveniently disposable so you can use a new one for each color and zap your prep time in half while ensuring brilliant color.

Long a favorite warm weather color choice, white is this season's must-have, whether you wear it head to toe or as an accessory. While some women might avoid white because of the "mess potential," wearing it can be easy if you follow a few tips from the experts.

Celebrity stylist Jessica Paster, who works with A-list actresses, says, "White is a refreshing change of pace from the dark colors we wear. It's just not celebrities that can pull off wearing white, everyone can wear it, but the key is knowing how to wear it well and avoid becoming a 'fashion don't.' "

In the not-too-distant past, Patti Lawson was diet-obsessed. You name it-she tried them all. And so it went until a little dog taught her some big lessons about life. Mourning the end of her latest relationship one winter, Lawson was spending most of her time at home, eating every imagin-able comfort food. Until she found herself in a pet shop adopting a puppy. After a few months of life with Sadie, someone in her office asked if she had lost weight. What was she doing?

"I blurted out...The Dog Diet...and realized it was so true...Sadie had gotten me active, helped me eat less, and also taught me how to lighten my mind...not just my body," said Lawson, author of "The Dog Diet" (HCI Books, $16.95), an award-winning author and trial attorney.

Lawson coined the term "dogersise," which is "anything that gets you moving with your dog and helps you burn calories, have fun and feel better." The basis of the program is walking, but there are exercises and activities to do with your dog.

Lawson also learned that eating certain foods-cottage cheese, fruits and veggies-was not only healthy for her but prevented Sadie from begging for scraps (a no-no according to her vet). For more information, visit www.thedogdiet.com

The root of many bad hair days could be bad hair products. That's the advice from stylists who say that the right product can add shine and moisture and make hair more manageable. So which products are for you? Here's a look:

Hair Repair-K-PAK from Joico might be a must-have for anyone looking to repair, strengthen and protect damaged hair. Everyday-Daily Care is a line of cleansers, conditioners and stylers that help retain moisture and promote strength and shine.

Style-Joico Style & Finish promotes hair's health while creating a customized, healthy style. Dry Hair-Moisture Recovery featuring Hydramine Sea Complex is a blend of moisture-loving ingredients from the sea. Soft Hair-Silk Result uses its Synergistic Silk System to produce softer, silkier, shinier hair. Volume-Body Luxe is a collection that increases the diameter of each hair fiber. Color-Color Endure uses a Multi-Spectrum Defense Complex to protect color. For more information, visit www.joico.com.

Use Your Head-The right product can help end bad hair days.

Combination of Learning Search(TM) and Site Champion(TM) Drives More Site Traffic, Delivers Better Search Results and Converts More Sales.

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the eyes of ULTA.com, beauty comes in many shades: increased site traffic, improved customer satisfaction through more relevant search results, and higher sales and conversion rates, thanks to SLI Systems, a provider of on-demand search services for Internet and e-commerce sites. ULTA, a leading purveyor of beauty and well-being products and services, has been using SLI Systems' Learning Search™ and Site Champion™ hosted site search and search engine optimization (SEO) offerings in order to derive more business from its online operations and further set itself apart from its competition. So far, it's working.

Move over Susan Lucci, Cher, Kathy Lee Gifford it's Demi's turn to launch her own lip gloss line. That's right folks Demi Moore set to launch her own cosmetic line. Moore, who is mom to three daughters - Rumer, 18, Scout, 15 and Tallulah, 12, said that she had decided to launch her own line after realising that beauty products are marketed to two distinct groups - older and younger customers - and that no range offers products for all ages.

Does that mean that women will be buying a strawberry scented wrinkle cream at Bath & Body Works? Hope not!

Moore said; "(My line) bridges the gap. That's something that I see through my experience with my own children; we all use the same things and yet women in general are separated into young and old. In truth, we really are all the same. As women we still have the little girl inside of us and as girls, we are just emerging as the women we will be. It's something that's just at its beginning stage and that I've thought passionately about doing for a while," she added.

Hmmm we think she might want to reconsider.

Many key advertising categories are leaving men's magazines soft, as they follow male consumers to more interactive media, writes MediaWeek. Though many titles are struggling, some have had success and many are turning to convergence.

According to Mediaweek Monitor, men's mags reported a four percent drop in ad pages through June. "It was a pretty lousy first quarter," said Chris Mitchell, vp and publisher of Condé Nast's Details. "Auto is soft, liquor is always threatening to do more on broadcast television, and consumer electronics is hot and cold." Although auto spending rose 7.7 percent, beer, wine and spirits spending through April fell 23.1 percent, according to TNS Media Intelligence.

True Religion Apparel Sees 1Q Profit

True Religion Apparel Inc., which makes designer denim, on Wednesday said first-quarter profit grew 69 percent, topping Wall Street's forecast, but offered second-quarter guidance below expectations.

Shares tumbled in aftermarket trading, giving up $1.86, or 9.8 percent, to $17.16 on the INET electronic exchange, after closing at $19.02 on the Nasdaq.

Quarterly profit was $6.5 million, 28 cents per share, compared with a profit of $3.8 million, or 17 cents per share during the same period last year. Sales climbed 77 percent to $35.6 million, from $20.1 million last year.

Researchers say manipulating an enzyme in the body may someday help people to lose weight.

Scientists at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland say by working with genetically engineered mice, they were able to interfere with the brain's ability to control an animal's response to a high-fat diet.

According to the researchers, a certain gene known as CPT1c makes a protein that protects against weight gain caused by a high-fat diet. Mice lacking the gene gained more weight than their littermates carrying normal copies of the gene.

The Hopkins researchers are hopeful the discovery has broad implications for understanding the genetic underpinnings of obesity and weight management.

It started with doctors sculpting his nose, then an operation to cut his eyelids to create folds and make his eyes appear bigger. Next came Botox injections in his forehead, followed by the fat being sucked out of his abdomen.

Before he was done, Park Hyo-jung had 24 procedures on his body in a little more than three years to improve his appearance. He had repeat surgeries after injury, added dimples to his cheeks, removed blemishes and chest hair, transformed a droopy face into a studly visage.

"Before I didn't have a girlfriend. I didn't want to even try because I didn't have confidence," said the 24-year-old, a technician at a medical supply company and part-time student.

There is no credible scientific evidence that drinking green tea reduces the risk of heart disease, federal regulators said Tuesday in rejecting a petition that sought to allow tea labels to make that claim.

The Food and Drug Administration said it reviewed 105 articles and other publications submitted as part of the petition but could find no evidence to support claims of the beverage's health benefits.

"FDA concludes there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with CVD" or cardiovascular disease, Barbara O. Schneeman, director of the agency's Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, wrote in a letter denying the petition. The FDA posted the letter to its Web site Tuesday.

Pierce Mattie PR executives reveal what it takes to get their clients a ton of fashion coverage for the upcoming season.

When launching a new collection of distressed denim, vintage-like t-shirts, apparel or couture and you are searching for that competitive edge with fashion magazines such as Elle, GQ or Vogue – listen up.

The Un-obvious Fashion PR Tips

Tip #1: Stop Copying True Religion – Get your own Faith!

How many brands showcased at a recent Project or Pool show look similar to the next brand? Vintage T-shirt brands or ‘another denim label’ are constantly popping up. Often, we at Pierce Mattie PR hear from vendor’s mouths “I want my brand to be like True Religion.” This is the wrong approach to take. Don’t copy the predecessor; rather know and cater to your own buyers needs. Strive to go from the bottom up, rather than the top down.

For example, know what fashion trends your audience will be interested in. Position your brand to be sufficient for those customers that you are trying to reach. If your target audience is 16-28, find out what they do when they are not shopping for clothing items. Are they on myspace.com? The most popular ‘group’ on myspace.com for fashion is Abercrombie, with over 115, 667 members. Another popular group is “I Love the 80’s.” Bloggers post their ideas, desires, and love interests on various items such as bands, video games and of course, fashion. Posts include what they love about vintage apparel from rock and roll bands to what their favorite video games were at
that time. The main point of success: How can your clothing line become a part of their daily life?

I had posted on this a while back when Darlene was terminated from her job for refusing to wear makeup. I actually found it quite amusing because I am always telling the Pierce Mattians to put more make up on – even the guys that work in our office could do with a little bronzer every now and then. You don’t have to agree with me, but the judge ruled – its full face or die!

Where am I going with this? Aside from the many wonderful benefits of wearing makeup, i.e. SPF protection, antioxidant benefits and environmental protection it also boosts self esteem, image and the professional perception of how people view you.

Scott Sonner for the AP reports - A casino company’s requirement for female bartenders to wear makeup does not amount to sexual discrimination, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Lawyers for Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. said the 7-4 ruling against Darlene Jespersen – who was fired in 2000 for refusing to wear makeup after 21 years as a bartender at Harrah’s in Reno – affirms the right of employers to adopt reasonable dress and grooming standards.

Britney Spears went from Curious to Fantasy, and now she's In Control. Those are the names of the pop star's fragrances with Elizabeth Arden. The company says more than 10 million bottles of the three scents have been sold since the launch of Curious in September 2004.

The names are not a coincidence. "As I get older, the names go with my age," said Spears, 24.

White Wheat! Let me shout it again people, White Wheat! Usually natural grain products don’t get me this excited, but this might be the turning point.

Coming to the market soon, is white wheat bread. White wheat is whole wheat with the color, taste and texture of white bread. Why am I writing about this you may ask? Well I was one of the millions of kids who were deprived from ever having white bread. My mother didn’t allow it in the house. This meant only whole grain bread for my brother and I, no matter if it was a grilled cheese sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I remember watching as a child, at a lunch time, all of my obese friends eating white bread after white bread sandwiches and yearning to have a taste. I realize of course now that this is the reason they were obese at eight years old…..

White wheat contains less tannic acid which means it can be milled with bran and germ. Thus, giving it the taste and health advantages of whole wheat bread. White wheat has actually been around for years but recent attention by new Government dietary standards has persuaded more people to eat healthier.

Nearly four out of ten Americans are obese. This means 31% or 59 million people are 30 pounds over a healthy weight. We are the most obese country in the world. The medical costs that come with being obese are straining the health care system and economy.

It’s my hope that people, who don’t like the taste of wheat bread and aren’t eating healthy, will discover this and make changes in their lives. This needs to be on Oprah!

Nicole Kidman inside Ladies Home Journal this month

Julia Kagan is the health director at Ladies' Home Journal and is based out of an office in New York City. She gave Media Insider a few basic tips about how to reach out to her and increase your chances of getting your health-related story into the pages of Ladies' Home Journal.

The more advance notice of a story, the better. Ladies' Home Journal has a three-month lead time, so if the pitch is seasonal, it must be done in a timely matter. At the end of March, the July lineup is already solid. That is, unless breaking news makes the editors change it. "We will turn on a dime for breaking news, as we did when coronary microvascular syndrome was identified and we got a story into the magazine in a week," said Kagan.

Anderson Cooper will contribute five stories a year to "60 Minutes" on CBS in an arrangement that allows CNN to rebroadcast those reports later, both networks said May 8.

Cooper, 38, fills a part-time slot previously taken by CNN's Christiane Amanpour and, along with Katie Couric's arrival at CBS this fall, gives a shot of new blood to television's top-rated newsmagazine.

Cooper did two stories last season for the now-defunct "60 Minutes II." One was an investigative piece about steroid use in the NFL.

"I got a good sense of his abilities as a journalist from that story," said Jeff Fager, executive producer of "60 Minutes," "and he just fit right in here."

Daniel Magnus, most recently the vice president of advertising and director of business development at the Robb Report, has been appointed managing director and publisher of Metro New York.

Magnus, 43, was expected to begin at the free daily newspaper May 15. He will be responsible for all of Metro New York's operations.

Magnus has worked in publishing for more than 21 years. Before his tenure at the Robb Report, he held management positions at Bloomberg LP, Time Inc.'s This Old House and Esquire. He previously held sales positions at GQ and Harper's Bazaar.

Metro New York is one of 61 Metro editions published by London-based Metro International in 88 cities in Europe, North America and South America and Asia.

Average paid weekday circulation of the nation's 20 largest newspapers for the six-month period ending March 31, as reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The percentage changes are from the comparable year-ago period:

1. USA Today, 2,272,815, up 0.09 percent

2. The Wall Street Journal, 2,049,786, down 1 percent

3. The New York Times, 1,142,464, up 0.5 percent

Alberto-Culver Co. Inc. will look to add to its Beauty Systems Group after taking time to digest acquisitions in that area, the company's president and chief executive said on Thursday.

Howard Bernick, speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference, said that Alberto-Culver would not look to make any "extreme" acquisitions.

Bernick also said that Alberto-Culver is still evaluating whether it will separate its consumer products division from its distribution and sales division, which sells hair care products at Sally Beauty stores and through a sales force.

A plan to merge the distribution and sales part of the business with salon operator Regis Corp. fell apart in early April. Since then, Alberto's board has been considering options such as separating the consumer products unit from the retail part of the organization.

Makoto Ishitoko strutted, pirouetted and posed in a room surrounded by mirrors.

"My wife says it's not embarrassing any more to walk together," the 41-year-old office worker said proudly after taking a walking lesson with a group of other men and women.

"My life has turned around completely ... I have confidence in myself now."

Ishitoko is one of a growing number of Japanese men investing time and money to improve their appearance. For them, applying facial lotion and wearing nice clothes just aren't enough.

Many are trying things once the preserve of women.

Manicures, spa treatments and even underwear that enhances the body shape are gaining popularity.

"It's a new era, and Japanese men are pursuing a new kind of manliness," said Yumi Komura, representative director of Sparklers, the firm that offers the walking class as part of a workshop called Total Men's Revolution.

A full series of the workshop, including communication and table-manner lessons in a one-on-one setting, costs 550,000 yen ($4,500), although group and one-time classes are also available for lower fees

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Do you think you have what it takes to join the most elite group of luxury brand publicists in our Manhattan office? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please read carefully the detailed information below on what we look for in our publicists. And follow the instructions to apply. We look forward to seeing you in an interview.

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The numbers are in for the top sellers at The Perfume Shop, the UK’s number one fragrance retailer. In a race to be Britain’s number one fragrance, the new Lotus juice, from Lotus Cars, scores higher than the David Beckham Instinct cologne. Those behind the Lotus brand are hoping for a similar success in the US.

Last Thursday, May 4th, I threw a big bash at Manhattan Motorcars to launch the new fragrance. It was one of the highlights of my career thus far. To keep things exciting, I served Ciroc Vodka [Lemon Drop Martinis] and then escorted the press to different hub stations to learn more about Lotus’ rich history and their high-design element that inspired the fragrance bottle. The final hub was wear that met with the fabulous Nikki Walker to learn more about the notes found in the fragrance. Things got even steamier when world-famous cover model, Joanna Krupa, strutted into the showroom in a short, flowing dress with spaghetti straps.

If you don’t know about Krupa yet, the German-born model/actress has graced the covers of men’s magazines around the world including Playboy, Stuff and Maxim. She is also racking up an extensive list of acting credits including feature appearances on CSI and ER. Her latest projects include big-budget films, where she stars alongside Mena Suvari and Acadmey-Award winner, Virginia Madsen.

For more info on the US launch of Lotus, check out ForbesAutos.com.

Fashion Week NYC. My favorite bi-annual event is a time to celebrate elite, high end designers, as well as to showcase rare new, up and coming talent. However, in the past couple of years, it has become a place for the general public and paparazzi to get their celebrity sighting fix. So much so, that editors and buyers have been shut out of shows because there was just no more room (we all remember the incident at Baby Phat a couple of seasons ago—I guess KLS thought Usher and his posse were much more important than THE André Leon Talley) It seems that the origination of the event has been much forgotten.

Rumor has it that Gayle King reportedly wants to sit in Star Jones Reynolds seat on The View. It’s clear that Barbara Walters and the rest of the crew can’t wait to get rid of Star and with Meredith Viera’s recent departure to the Today Show, why not renovate the rest of the room? Could it be because this was a parameter outlined in Rosie O’Donnell’s contract for joining the cast along with hair cutting restrictions?

Straight from Page Six:

“STAR Jones Reynolds has been told to hitch up her hefty wagonload of freebies and waddle off into the sunset, sources say.

ABC will announce this week that the big-boned talking head is out at ‘The View,’ a source close to the inner workings of the late-morning gabfest tells Page Six. What network brass won't say is that she's being unceremoniously ousted at the direct behest of the show's grand dame Barbara Walters and the incoming Rosie O'Donnell.

‘It was always Rosie's condition of joining the show, and Barbara agreed to those conditions from the outset,’ our source said. The network and Jones are now concocting a face-saving scenario in which Jones will be touted as moving on to pursue important new projects.

How Jones' star has fallen - just a few weeks ago, she had hoped to succeed Meredith Vieira as the moderator of the crew.

But Walters wasn't going to let that happen because ‘she hates her. Really can't stand her,’ a source told us last week. O'Donnell was recruited quickly after Vieira announced she was jumping to ‘Today.’”

1,174 BEAUTY PRODUCTS. 1,300 TESTERS. 78 WINNERS.

For the seventh year, SELF honors the top-performing makeup, skin and hair treatments as chosen by more than 1,300 readers nationwide to help other consumers feel confident in purchasing what they see at makeup counters or on drugstore shelves.

Testers tried 1,174 new products from which twenty-four makeup winners were selected, as well as 20 facial treatments, 21 hair products, 9 body products and 4 sun care products.

To qualify for the 2006 Healthy Beauty Awards, products must have been new formulas (not new colors or fragrances) launched between April 2005 and March 2006. Products were judged on the basis of readers' survey rankings and comments. Texture, scent, ease of use, benefits and overall results were among the criteria considered. The products receiving the most top rankings and positive comments were the winners.

In case we weren’t using our iPods enough, you can now use them to date. Yes, you read that correctly. I’m always looking for great iPod finds because, well, you can never have (1) too many iPods (I’m up to, count them – three now) and (2) you can never ever have too many accessories (car charger, arm band, special headphones, rubber protective case, etc.) and I came across PodDater: a new portable dating service that helps you find a match via your video iPod.

Different from ordinary dating sites, PodDater lets you view video profiles of potential dates. Why’s that better? Ever check out a profile, fall instantly in love and then meet to find out that picture was taken at Glamour Shots 8 years ago? (I haven’t but I can only imagine) Well with PodDater, you get to search video profiles for your next honey of the month. Here’s how it works: (1) head to the PodDater site and search video profiles to find your match; (2) upload your personal video and (3) download who you’d like to keep and connect with other tech savvy singles willing to send video clips to strangers all over the world. (Are you catching the Sinicism?)

So now, instead of simply bedazzling your iPod (which is so adorably cute—so cute that it sparked a new revolution in crystals—divas are even blingin’ out their shaving brushes), downloading your favorite TV show, listening to your favorite jams from the 80’s and staying fit with an exercise routine, you can even find a guy or girl to share your iPod obsession with!! I’m actually psyched …

Veteran actress Diane Keaton has been awarded for her enduring looks by securing a lucrative magazine and TV contract with cosmetics giant L'Oreal.

The 'Somethings Gotta Give' star joins a long list of stunning celebrities already signed up with L'Oreal, including Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz.

Keaton has apparently agreed to front the make-up companies Paris Age Perfect range and will endorse face cream and cosmetics in print and television advertisements this summer.

According to L'Oreal Paris' president Carol J Hamilton, Keaton was a natural choice for the campaign due to her "natural beauty".

"She's a natural beauty. Nothing artificial. And she's comfortable with who she is," Hamilton said.

Mike George, who took over as chief executive of Liberty Media's QVC shopping channel last month, wants QVC to make its first acquisitions of developing brands, as it explores future growth strategies.

Mr George told the FT that the network, which had sales last year of more than $6bn, has played a significant role in developing young brands, both through its own sales and by driving sales at other retailers.

"Retailers such as Nordstrom and Sephora absolutely see a peak in sales of items we feature," he said. "We think we can be a little more aggressive in capturing the value we create because of the marketing lift that we give the brands that we feature."

Flash back to 10 years ago when your parents got their first business cell phone. That thang was huge; antenna and all. With the evolution of cell phones and accessories, we have gone through a decade of extreme progress. First, text messaging was rude and taboo; now, it is the communication staple. Video, podcasts, music, and virtually any other type of communication can be experienced via your cell phone.

Living in a materialistic world, size matters, and apparently so does color. After Motorola’s successful debut of the RAZR™ and its not so successful successor, the SLVR™, PEBL™ makes its debut. The PEBL™ was originally introduced in basic black. Motorola then saw a need to please the pretty in pink with their limited editions of 3 different pink shade RAZR™s. The next step was to “iPodify” and personalize your phone. The new PEBL™ comes in five rich and sexy colors including pink, green, blue, and orange. “We’ve gone from pink to “whoa”, says Jim Wicks, Vice President and Director, Consumer Experience Design, Motorola.

Eva Longoria tops Maxim's seventh annual "Hot 100" list of the most successful women in film, TV, music, sports and fashion for the second year in a row. "I was actually really shocked last year when I made the list," said the 31-year-old Longoria, who ranked No. 91 on the 2004 roster. "So 91 to No. 1 was a big jump, and then to get it a second time in a row - I just couldn't believe it," she said Friday. "I was like, `Surely there are more beautiful women in the world.' I can name 10." Maxim said it is the first time the magazine has bestowed the No. 1 honor back-to-back. Editors made the selections for the issue, which will be on newsstands Thursday.

The Universe has finally answered all publicists prayers... a new consumer magazine that does not accept advertising. YEAH HAW! Watch out editorial here we go!!! That's right a new magazine on shopping is set to launch this late summer.

Does the world need another shopping magazine? The answer from that long-standing arbiter of product reliability, Consumer Reports - is a resounding Yes.

The idea behind ShopSmart, a new companion to Consumer Reports being launched this summer, is to reach out to younger women who want a quick read on the best deals in household products they buy frequently, skipping the extensive ratings and charts common to its sibling publication.

The magazine will have a breezier look than Consumer Reports, with punchier colors and graphics and shorter, easy-to-read items. Consumer Reports planned to announce the magazine's debut on Monday.

Lisa Lee Freeman, a longtime magazine editor who will be taking the reins at ShopSmart, said in an interview that the magazine will be very different from the various shopping titles aimed at women these days such as the successful Lucky and Domino, both published by Conde Nast, and Shop Etc., from Hearst Corp.

Like its companion magazine Consumer Reports, which is also published by Consumers Union, an independent nonprofit product testing and consumer advocacy organization in Yonkers, N.Y., ShopSmart will accept no advertising.

Last night while I was channel surfing, I came across a rather compelling commercial. The CEO of Bausch & Lomb publicly announced that his company had goofed. Good damage control or an obvious mistake?

Your eyes are your most valuable asset. Vision allows you to physically see and experience the beautiful and the not-so beautiful world we live in. Many vision aids have been implemented to assist corrective vision including eyeglasses, Lasik surgery, and of course, contact lenses. As many of you know the partner to contact lenses is contact solution- without it, panic occurs and the lenses can not be sported.

Bausch and Lomb, the 153 year old company specializes in eye health care. Their main business focuses on soft material contact lenses and lens care products, inducing their infamous ReNu® multi-purpose solutions. These solutions tend to the care of the lenses itself and maintain the moisture of the eye while wearing the lenses.

Media company E.W. Scripps Co. is giving up the struggle to make its money-losing Shop At Home television and online retailing subsidiary profitable and will close the business by June 30. Shop At Home, based in Nashville, Tenn., is the nation's fourth-largest TV shopping outlet with a reach of 57 million households. Shop At Home has lagged behind QVC, Home Shopping Network and ShopNBC. Shop At Home's 650 full-time employees were notified on Tuesday that the business would be closing.

If you ask any Bond fan to name a memorable scene from the 1981 hit “For Your Eyes Only,” there’s a good chance they will tell you about the Lotus Esprit Turbo that 007 drove under water.

The prototype car, driven by Roger Moore, is the rarest Lotus in the world, and on June 17th it will go on the auction block along with 50 other items from Bond’s early films with Sean Connery all the way through to recent movies starring Pierce Bronsan. The Lotus is expected to bring somewhere in the area of $350,000, a huge price to pay when you consider the luxury cars start at around $50,000.

For fans who can’t afford the price tag, they can own a little piece of the Lotus heritage with the new Lotus fragrance. It’s already available in the UK, where it is outselling David Beckham’s cologne, and it will launch in the US starting in September.

China has banned a breast-enlarging liquid that was injected into more than 300,000 women and caused such pain for some they had their breasts removed - the latest scandal over dangerous treatments blamed on lax oversight or corrupt doctors.

The China Daily, which reported the ban Thursday, said the Chinese-made liquid, Ao Mei Ding, was approved for general use in 2000 before completing required testing and was used in hospitals and beauty parlors throughout the country.

The treatment, made by the Fu Hua Pharmaceutical Co., "continuously caused negative effects and consumer complaints, and the administration's monitoring center believes its safety cannot be guaranteed," the State Food and Drug Administration said in a statement on its Web site Thursday.

The drug's manufacturer was ordered to "deal with the incidents caused by the use of the product," the statement said, without giving details of what the company was expected to do. A phone call to the company after normal business hours Thursday wasn't answered.

A female mummy with complex tattoos on her arms has been found in a ceremonial burial site in Peru, the National Geographic Society reported Tuesday. The mummy was accompanied by ceremonial items including jewelry and weapons, and the remains of a teenage girl who had been sacrificed, archaeologists reported. The burial was at a site called El Brujo on Peru's north coast near Trujillo. They said the woman was part of the Moche culture which thrived in the area between A.D. 1 and A.D. 700. The mummy was dated about A.D. 450. The presence of gold jewelry and other fine items indicates the mummy was that of an important person, but anthropologist John Verano of Tulane University, said the researchers are puzzled by the presence of war clubs, which are not usually found with females.

I guess the Saudi ladies don't get Denise Austin at 7am during her broadcast wakup workout like we do here in the states. Then again... what do they get?

Under their modest flowing robes, two-thirds of Saudi women are too fat. They can try dieting, but you won't find many in aerobics classes or power-walking along this city's walking trails. And very few of their daughters attend schools that have physical education classes.

There are no laws against women exercising outside their homes, but in this conservative society many are influenced by scholars and clerics who argue against it. In Riyadh, hotel gyms and pools are off limits to women. Along the city's walking trails, where the women walk covered in the mandatory black cloaks, they are sometimes harassed by the muttawa.

Rana al-Abdullah said one such official ordered her to go back to her car when she was out walking one day and wouldn't leave her alone until she did. She now walks in malls.

Sunscreens made with submicroscopic particles pose a health hazard and should be recalled, environmental groups said Tuesday in asking the government to increase regulation of growing uses of the science of nanotechnology.

The petition asked the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen its regulation of sunscreens that contain nano-sized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, saying particles of those minute dimensions pose health and environmental risks, including possible inflammatory and immune responses in the human body. Eight groups, including the International Center for Technology Assessment, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, filed the petition.

In a conference call with reporters, members of those groups said federal regulators are lagging in addressing the risks posed by nanotechnology, especially when it comes to sunscreens and the dozens of cosmetic products that companies are making with nanoparticles, which can be hundreds of times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

"These companies are literally treating their customers like guinea pigs," said Lisa Archer, a senior campaigner for Friends of the Earth. Archer invoked asbestos, DDT and PCBs as examples of other substances where regulatory action came too late to prevent the health and environmental damage that ensued from their use.

Last night, the The O.C. ended the season with a bang- literally. In the final scenes of the episode,M ischa Barton’s character, Marissa was killed in a car wreck. Call it irony, but today I opened one of my favorite magazines to find Mischa looking absolutely lifeless in a Bebe ad. A colleague of mine tried to convince me that it doesn’t look bad because it echoes the style of high fashion. I disagree. The gal has great gams, but her expression absolutely lacked any signs of life. Her Keds ads were cute, but Bebe sexy she is not.

This week as I was walking in Grand Central running to work, I noticed a big ruckus on the main floor. There were lights, there were cameras and there was action. I wondered what the big deal was but I went about my day as usual. I went back for a small lunch time adventure to see if there were any new developments. And there was! A beautiful Chanel symbol had appeared. My mind raced as to what could possibly be happening and then I realized it must be some type of show.

Yes, ladies and gents Karl Lagerfield decided to show his Cruise collection in Grand Central Terminal. It was unique, it was daring, it WAS Chanel! Such stars as the new OC alum Mischa Barton (see Nafi’s blog) and Naomi Watts were in attendance. Personally, I think Karl outshined himself and I think he even thought so too as he was photographing his own collection as top models sashayed down the runway. Just when you think fashion can’t get any more fabulous, Chanel proves it can and it will.

Only in Manhattan people, only in Manhattan!

If you were to ask any American the name of the largest sporting event, they’d probably say the Super Bowl. Million dollar advertisements, a momentous half time show and the entire country tuned in because of the money at stake in the office pool. Either that or the chances of seeing something “pop out” on live television. Interestingly enough, the most popular event on the planet is actually the World Cup, a trophy that couldn’t be identified by most Americans.

Looking at the popularity through a PR perspective, we sum up this lack of interest quite easily. The U.S. just isn’t into soccer, nor will they ever be. Unfortunately, the most admired sport in the world is a mere oversight in the U.S. sports category, where internationally it undoubtedly reigns supreme.

Apparel retailer Gap Inc. said on Monday that its electronic-commerce division, Gap Inc. Direct, would launch an online footwear business to grab a piece of the lucrative shoe business.

The unit is expected to be ready for the 2006 holiday season and will offer casual and designer footwear, the company said in a statement.

Gap Inc., which has struggled with slowing sales as competition in the apparel business has heated up, said its market analysis has shown its online apparel customers also buy shoes online. Sales of online footwear are rising by almost 15 percent annually, and the market is expected to reach $5.5 billion by 2010, Gap said, citing Forrester Research.

"Almost two-thirds of our online customers surveyed last year said that they would buy shoes online from Gap Inc.," Toby Lenk, president of Gap Inc. Direct, said in a statement.

"Gap.com, OldNavy.com and BananaRepublic.com are all consistently among the top 10 specialty apparel sites in terms of traffic, so we believe we already have an active and loyal customer base for online footwear," Lenk said.

The 58-year old bag company from France, which has been producing those very-well exposed collapsible nylon bags, has taken the next step to expand their brand. This Thursday, the tore opens at 132 Spring Street. The addition of this SoHo flagship, celebrates Longchamp’s 100th store worldwide; its seventh in the U.S. Longchamp is not done with its expansion, however. Plans are churning to open two boutique stores; one in Oyster Bay and one on their greatest clientele’s Long Island quarters, in the fall.

Longchamp is obviously shooting for luxury status. Kate Moss has been signed to their ad campaigns this spring and fall. Designer luggage has also been designed by fashion designer Jeremy Scott. Of course the next step for Longchamp, is to start a ready-to-wear clothing line, which will debut in the new SoHo store.

The beautiful 9,830 square-foot store was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who was the mastermind behind the hot-selling Longchamp “Zipper bag”. The new space features a light airy feeling with articulate architectural and design features, including a 55-ton flowing steel staircase as the store’s main focus point.

For the past two years, Longchamp has undergone a complete brand makeover; adding color, style, and amping up their prices for their new image. For example, last spring, Longchamp’s average wholesale price for a bag was $170. Now, the company is simply requesting $499 for the newly branded luxury bags. What’s next? Greater distribution, allowing for larger sales, more stores, and more products sold = cash in the bag.

About a week and a half before Cinco de Mayo 2006, I received an invitation from one of my favorite personal publicists, her client; Jeremy Piven was there to party with all for this joyous holiday. I got right on the phone and RSVPed for myself plus hmmm, I think six should be enough.

Canyon Ranch Health & Fitness Resort is going urban in Chicago. The Tucson-based resort and spa and Chicago's LR Development Co. are joining to create luxury condominiums, a hotel and a combination spa and wellness center in a 67-story tower overlooking the city's Magnificent Mile. Canyon Ranch Living - Chicago will be the first urban application of Canyon Ranch's hotel-residence-wellness center concept.

The high-rise will include 256 residential condominiums, 128 hotel condominiums, a world-class 65,000-square-foot health and wellness center, a gourmet restaurant featuring fresh healthy food and parking. The new tower also will house offices for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.

Madonna's broken bones inspired her recent photoshoot in this month's W - now a Like A Virigin once reborn for the very first time.

Kicking off her Confessions Tour on Sunday night at the Forum in Inglewood, Madonna proved she has more to offer than just production numbers, though it took almost halfway through her two-hour concert to arrive at that conclusion.

The show began with a giant mirrored disco ball descending from the rafters and landing on a small stage at the center of the arena; it opened like a flower, and Madonna made her grand entrance. Wearing an English riding outfit complete with top hat and crop, she launched into the pulsating "Future Lovers," flogging male dancers with bits in their mouths in an S&M parody. The sold-out house went wild.

The equestrian segment continued with "Like a Virgin," as she rode a saddle on a pole revolving like a carousel while she engaged in happy humping.

The Dixie Chicks new album comes out today and we are all the better for it. The album is called “Taking the Long Way.” The title fits well as both singles are below Billboards Top 40. I for one will go out immediately today to purchase it. I was able to get a sneak peak from a friend at Columbia Records and I love it!!

Their first single “Not Ready to Make Nice,” shows their not ready to apologize for the backlash that was caused in 2003. You might remember the craziness that ensued when lead singer Natalie Maine’s said at a London concert “Just so you know, we’re ashamed President Bush is from Texas.” It didn’t take long till angry phone calls flooded Country radio stations starting a boycott against the Chicks music. Country radio stations even went as far as holding a Dixie “Chicken Toss” party where people dumped their albums and posters into trash cans!

Strike two came last year when Maine’s called Country Singer Toby Keith’s pro-America song ,Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, “ignorant” and said the song “makes country music sound ignorant.”

I mean maybe I’m too encased in my New York bubble but people are crazy in the South and Midwest! Celebrities for years have been stating their opinion. If I was in the public eye I would do the same. It’s not America if you can’t be who you are and get your feelings across.

I personally have seen the Dixie Chicks three times in concert and I have never been disappointed once. They are three very talented women who are fun to watch and give you your money’s worth. August 1, they will be performing at Madison Square Garden and I will have a front row seat supporting them. Be sure to pick up their new CD today and request their two hot singles “Not Ready to Make Nice” and “Everybody Knows” at your local radio station and music channel.

It seems that every generation has one leading pop culture icon. In the 50s it was leather jackets and poodle skirts, in the 80s the Rubik’s Cube and in the 21st Century it is obvious that the iPod is the staple icon.

Just when you thought the computer turned entertainment giant couldn’t get any bigger, Apple announced on Tuesday that they have teamed up with powerhouse Nike to introduce new technology for runners that shows them how far they’ve run and how many calories they’ve burned. If that isn’t motivation enough, Tour de France-champion Lance Armstrong will cheer you along as you run for a healthier body.

Currently, Apple controls about 80 percent of the MP3 market, and this announcement is sure to drive those numbers up more. If you want to support the "little guys" though, you can also checkout other fitness programs from industry leader, PumpOne – the first company to launch image-based training programs. Now with more than 100 different workouts, you’re sure to stay motivated a lot longer while constantly challenging your body to help excell to the next level.

And if you don’t own an iPod, don't worry. PumpOne Trainers play on virtually any image-ready handheld. Don't have any of those either? PumpOne programs can also be viewed on and printed out from your computer.

For more info on the Apple+iPod device, you can checkout this article from the San Francisco Chronicle, which also featured PumpOne.

Q: What is the trick to applying foundation in such a manner that you get a "flawless" complexion? Any hints or suggestions on how I can get the same results as you have in your photographs? I have actually done this a few times, but it has been nothing more than a fluke, as I have NO idea how I managed it, but loved the result and hated to take my makeup off at the end of the day. _Susan, via email

A: I wish you had given me more information because without knowing how you typically apply your makeup, what type of foundation you're using, what skin-care products you're using, and even the condition of your skin, there is no way for me to know what step or steps along the way are going awry for you.

Many factors can affect the way your foundation will end up looking. I wish it weren't so complicated, but it is. For example, if you have dry skin and your cleansing/moisturizing routine is leaving the surface of your skin flaky, foundation can make the problem more noticeable. Alternatively, if you have oily skin and are using a moisturizer or a foundation that is too emollient (even an oil-free one can be too emollient or not oil-absorbing or matte enough), the foundation can slide right off. Even on oily skin, drying skin-care products can also cause flaking, so you could have two problems working against you even before you put on your makeup.

In terms of applying foundation, the right foundation for your skin type (appropriately matte or appropriately smoothing) and the right color for your skin tone are paramount. If you had told me your skin type, I could make some recommendations, I just need more information. But I don't want to leave you without any suggestions, so following are a few ideas about some typical mistakes women make when applying foundation.

Apparel maker Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. will discontinue its U.S. Polo Jeans Co brand to focus on expanding its denim line across other brands globally, including Lauren for women and Polo Ralph Lauren for men, the company said Wednesday.

“It has not been performing well for some time and because of our design expertise and our relationships through existing brands, we're more interested in expanding the denim category globally rather that isolating it in one brand,” said Polo spokeswoman Nancy Murray.

In January, the company had bought back the U.S. Polo Jeans Co license from Jones Apparel Group Inc. for $255 million to gain more control over its brands. The Polo Jeans license had restricted Polo Ralph Lauren's ability to develop and sell denim in other lines.

“The beauty of buying back the brand was that we were no longer limited contractually,” Murray said.

L'Oréal has snipped the ribbon on its redesigned Paris Hairdressing Academy. The 16,000-square-foot training center, which had been under renovation for two years, was redesigned by French architect Didier Gomez.

Located on Rue Royale here, the loft-like space was constructed to meet the needs of L'Oréal personnel, including hairdressers, product managers and merchandising chiefs who train there. Gomez created an open feel for the academy by removing doors and merging smaller rooms into three large open areas. In the auditorium, 15,000 shades of lighting can be chosen to match colors associated with a brand for a product launch or a runway show, for example.

Le Tigre may be classified as a "retro" brand, but Ryan O'Sullivan, president and chief executive officer, is only looking forward.

The line is in the midst of what O'Sullivan calls "a mandated evolution." The affects started to become evident in March, when he poached Jenny La Fata from Sean by Sean Combs to be design director of the women's and men's collections, and infused both for holiday and fall with modern takes on the basic silhouettes for which Le Tigre has become known.

Having outgrown its home in the Garment District here, the company will move in July into new 14,000-square-foot headquarters at 149 Fifth Avenue. A month later, Le Tigre is to unveil its e-commerce Web site. The brand also is aligning itself with art projects and music groups and venues to target its core customer.

Consumer sales of diamond jewelry so far this year are stronger than in 2005, but the cutting and manufacturing sector is sluggish partly due to a De Beers price hike on rough diamonds in February, officials of the diamond giant said on Tuesday.

The first several "sights" -- sales of rough diamonds to De Beers selected clients -- have been lower than at the same time last year, Managing Director Gareth Penny told one reporter.

"On the sales side, the first three sights have been a bit behind last year," he said in an interview in Botswana as the firm signed a new agreement with the government.

DTC boosted the price of the rough diamonds it sells by just under 2 percent in February and this may have weakened sentiment among cutters and jewelry makers, said Varda Shine, managing director of De Beers marketing arm, the Diamond Trading Company (DTC).

“Jenny from the Block” has morphed from a Fly Girl on the set to producer of her new reality show Moves on MTV.

Great news: another reality show has been born. Jennifer Lopez will host an eight-episode reality dance series entitled “Moves” on MTV this fall. As executive producer with Simon Fields, a partner in her production company Nuyorican, Lopez has an integral part of the show—even choosing final dancers and special VIP dance guests from the industry.

“Moves,” scheduled to premiere in the fourth quarter, will follow six dancers over eight weeks as they tell their stories of struggle, reaching for the starts, showcasing talent, paying rent and dancing for 30,000 fans.

Lopez, the former “Fly Girl” from “In Living Color,” has attained a level of success that is rarely attainable by dancers. The worldwide phenomenon is known for not only her dance floor moves but her talent on screen in film and in music.

“I started out as a dancer, and I know what that world is. These dancers have dedicated their lives to this, and honestly, the glory is not always there. It's something they do only out of love. It's a tough life, and I want to show that struggle,” says Lopez.

This year, over 1,503 visitors came by the 2006 Luxe Pack New York packaging show. The conference was held on May 17th and 18th at the Metropolitan Pavilion where 75 exhibitors displayed their newest ideas and novelties in product packaging. The conference in its fourth year was organized by Indice Monaco, the same organizer of Luxe Pack Monaco and Brazil. The main theme this year was innovative design. New marketing concepts and materials were fused together to form one fantastic display of packaging options. The president of Luxe Pack stated “Luxe Pack is becoming more and more the place to be for luxury packaging”.

An Evening of Luxury, sponsored by Rand International and O’Gara Coach Company, took place last night in Beverly Hills. The invitation only event featured high end, luxury products, including beauty products, jewels, wines, cigars, boats, watches, and cars. The Bugatti Veyron was undoubtedly the most luxurious item featured at the event.
The Buggatti Veyron can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds and uses up a full tank of gas in 12 minutes if the car is traveling at full speed. Only 300 models of the Bugatti Veyron exist. Considering the fact that the car costs $1.2 million, it is rather amazing that one attendee purchased not just one, but two Bugatti Veyrons during the event.
Celebrities and members of the media sipped on white grape martinis and smoked Cuban cigars while checking out products from high end companies such as HOMMAGE, Tara, Design Within Reach, Bugatti, and many more. The most notable celebrities that attended the event were Lionel Ritchie, Jay Leno, and Pharrell Williams.

Designer Stacey Bendet recently opened a boutique on Robertson Boulevard named Alice + Olivia. Bendet also owns and operates another Alice + Olivia boutique in East Hampton, N.Y., which specializes in feminine and modern tops, skirts and dresses.
The Los Angeles store is in a great location. In addition to getting lots of foot traffic, the paparazzi regularly lurk in bushes in front of the store in order to snap pictures of celebrities. Bendet recognizes the importance of the store’s location in generating press. According to Bendet, "Being on Robertson is amazing for celebrity outreach — from a press perspective."

Some of the items sold at Alice + Olivia include drapey knit tops, bolero jackets in stretch fabrics, and knit pull-on and wrap dresses. But the most notable items are the designer pants that range in price between $165 and $297. Some of the styles featured this month include seersucker shortie-shorts, white pleated wide-leg trousers, black cropped, tab-front pants, and navy-and-white striped leggings.

Although the Los Angeles location of Alice + Olivia has only been open for a month, Bendet is already looking ahead. She expects to break the $1 million in sales in 2006 and will launch limited-edition, custom-made pieces that appeal to Angelinos’ sense of style.

Alice + Olivia is located at 134 South Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills.

This week, my idol and most favorite person in the world, Kimora Lee Simmons, released her much anticipated book Fabulosity. Yes, ladies, you can now own your very own guide to being fabulous!

Kimora was on the Tyra Banks Show promoting the book and I loved every minute! I mean it just doesn’t get any better, Tyra and Kimora! I never knew they were such good friends; apparently they started modeling together and both took on the big, bad model (who shall remain nameless, but we all know who she is…LOL.) I thought the sisterly bond they had was refreshing and something some people can learn from.

Kimora seems to be every where in the media lately. With the aftermath of her break up from Russell (finally) she is doing a great job of keeping media positive and around her, rather than it being negative and about the break up. I think we can all learn from Ms. KLS. Own your ideas, own your personality and exude Fabulosity! Oh yeah and go get the book. Trust, it IS better than Paris’.

Gone are the days where a “simple” swag bag valued at $30,000 will pacify celebrity A-listers. I am shocked and appalled to hear this week that at the Cannes Film Festival celebrities and socialites are receiving FREE plastic surgery! Isn’t this illegal? Perhaps the federal regulations are a little different overseas, but I would think there needs to be some sort of policy in place to operate a venue of this sort.

Gifting suites are nothing new to the socially fabulous, and they are practically forced to take free items with them upon leaving the suites — not before grabbing a quick photo though! It’s sort of an unpaid endorsement if you will.

Free plastic surgery though seems a little shady if you ask me and I would run far, far away from it. What I’m looking forward to the most is to see who comes back from Cannes with a new nose or a nice perky pair on their chest and denies having any work done. Hollywood is always so entertaining!

Last night’s showdown on American Idol began with the first ever reality television series red carpet. The contestants and judges arrived dressed to the double nines with hair and makeup prepared to impress. The fifth season of Idol demonstrates its growing popularity and marks a new impact on American pop culture. Over 75 million votes came in for the final results; more than any US president has received in history. The contestants received extreme fashion advice, attention, and image-altering publicity. So what does this say about American pop and fashion culture?

Why is it that most people aren’t appreciated until they’re gone? That exact question was Oprah Winfrey’s motivation for throwing her Legends Ball last year. The unforgettable three-day celebration was her way of showing 25 brave, inspirational and pioneering women what they’ve meant not only to her, but also to the countless other women they’ve motivated and stimulated.

On Monday, May 22, the world got a glimpse into that weekend via a special on ABC. In very intimate and emotional ways, the legends, who included Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Corretta Scott King, Leontyne Price, Pearl Cleage, Tina Turner and Diahann Carroll, were greeted and gifted by some of today’s most popular female entertainers. At each of the three events over the weekend, tears abounded. Since I’m not a legend or a boldface name (yet), I was not at the actual ball. But seeing all the women I learned about as a child celebrated in such a beautiful way made my eyes water as if I was actually there and able to tell those women what they have meant to my life. I lived vicariously through Oprah’s celebration of the mothers of R&B, dance, African American music and the civil rights movement. And I have been stirred to “dream bigger,” as Oprah would say. Money and professional achievement are great, but my new goal is to inspire and motivate.

Zipcar is the newest “luxury” in Manhattan. Rent a car by the hour or day and feel luxurious with some extra cash in your pocket! Living in Manhattan is quite expensive. These days, you will probably be looked at as an angel if your residence is New York, New York- Manhattan. Real estate values have gone up so high in the past two years that it is almost impossible for the average Joe, John, or Salvatore to live in this city filled with excitement and inflation.

To add to that luxury, imagine owning a car in Manhattan and living here at the same time. Ok, let’s do the math. Your one bedroom apartment costs about $2,500 per month. Your car lease costs $300 and your parking, $400 per month. The grand total of basic living expenses, without food or party comes to $3,200, or $38,400 per year. Whoa- that’s a lot of cash, in fact its more than the average starting salary, before taxes.