Now even the classy and sophisticated Halle Barry has hopped onto the celebrity fragrance bandwagon!
Launching in March 2009, Halle Berry has teamed up with International Flavors and Fragrances to produce her signature scent. She said that a fragrance was something she’s always wanted to do for herself… riiight. Unlike the rest of us, you just had to wait for a big enough check to endorse for her fragrance “dreams” to come true!
It is definitely targeted to the working girl, with bottle prices ranging from $17-$35! Sales are already projected to reach $50 million at retail, in 16,000 mass market doors, i.e. Dillard’s, Macys and Target.
Unless this “Eau de Barry” guarantees attracting young hot male models, like her baby daddy and boyfriend, I want nothing to do with it!

Halle Berry & Gabriel Aubry

Marcels

If you happen to be in the D.C. area and you must immediately go to Pennsylvania Ave NW & 24th Street to one of the best dining establishments you will ever find.

Marcel’s boasts a franco-flemish menu that does not disappoint! We decided to order from their pre-theatre menu and (sigh) it was heaven. Pure and simple:

• Creamy asparagus soup: sooooo good not a drop was left in the bowl

• Chicken Breast: the most moist delicious perfectly tasty four slices (quality not quantity folks!)I have ever had in my entire life.

• And dessert…..ooooohhh…orgasm on a plate is more like it! A triple chocolate attack of mousse and sorbet with a dash of just tangy enough passion fruit left me nearly ready to re-enact Meg Ryan’s classic scene from “When Harry Met Sally” (you know which one).

All of this was topped off with the most delicious wine. Now the name escapes me but they have one of the greatest wine lists and the servers there are so well-versed that you will be in good hands no matter which bottle (cause you can’t have just one glass!) you choose to imbibe.

Marcel’s….recipient of the CakeNotCoke.com seal of approval.

I’ve always had a fascination for black jewelry whether it be onyx, black crystals or the luxurious black diamond.  It is the immediate, yet subtle upgrade that these black accents give a variety of items, such as clothing, jewelry, shoes or handbags that makes it so attractive.  Black simply brings an elegant touch to just about anything.

I was fortunate to stumble upon the demure Black Dior resin necklace, and fell in love with the elegance, yet modesty of necklace. It can easily be worn to an event or dress up your favorite jeans and white tee.

Knowing there had to be more within the collection, I started to Google. The Black Dior collection is definitely not an easy find! Even if you hit up the Dior US site fashion/costume jewelry are not listed. The seemingly obvious way around it, is to go onto the Dior UK site… and there they are!

Black Dior Playful Collection

Matching bracelet, bangle and earrings!  The earrings and bracelet are both created from black resin beads, and the black resin bangle delicately painted in a gold “cannage” design. I wouldn’t recommend stocking up on all four pieces, but the necklace and bracelet are a must! They give a girl starlet presence, with a naughty twist, very Blair Waldorf if I must say!

Prices range from $325 – $740.

Who’s in and who’s out!

For awhile it had seemed like every celebrity had clothing or accessory line.
Noting that the majority of these celeb “designers” do nothing more than cut licensing deals and flood stores with mass produced crap, I mean apparel. But WWD has complied the list of Winners and Loser’s, in which we have cut the crap and got straight to point for you on you on ‘who’s in and who’s out!
IN
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
The Row, young designer apparel, Elizabeth and James high end contemporary apparel, and their line for Wal-Mart Marykateandashley, the twins continue to grow their apparel business. MKO and AO, are definitely celebrities who do more for their line than cash a check, they design fashion.

Elizabeth James @ Shopbop.com

Elizbeth James @ ShopBop.com

Beyonce
House of Dereon attempts to take a more sophisticated turn (hopefully out of the juniors department at Macy’s) as it repositions itself as an evening wear line. Don’t fear those ill fitting stretch jeans will still be available under the new label Dereon Sportswear!

House of Dereon

Dereon Denim

LC or Lauren Conrad

Despite the bad press and rumors of low sales, the line has managed to rake in $4 million dollars in it’s year long existence! Bloomingdale’s reps claim to have experience major sell-through s and that it has exceeded expectations! I guess that shows that just because Kitson can’t sell it doesn’t mean it’s crap!

Also in:

• Justin Timberlake: With new designers at the reigns the sleeping giant William Rast is ready take over!

• Nelly: This is a surprise to me, Apple Bottoms is doing so well, that it has branched off into premium denim priced around $175!

Hanging In:

Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson shoe line reportedly brings in $250 million at retail (sadly I own a pair of black JS sling back pumps). Yet her shoe line is the bread and butter of her licensee lines, supposedly she also has a line of coats, lingerie, accessories and hair extensions!! What won’t she sell?!?

Hot!

Great Color Bad Style

Stay Puff Marshmallow Chic?!?

Stay Puff Marshmallow Man!

Also hanging tough:

• Paris Hilton: I always wondered if Paris regrets starting a shoe and bag line, knowing that now she has to carry her crappy cheap bags and wear her uncomfortable corn producing heels in order to hype her goods. She was once one of the fiercest bitches, now she mixes Couture with her Crap!
• Victoria Beckham: Now I’ve seen, held and tried these crappy DVB jeans, and she should have worked it out with Rock & Republic, these jeans aren’t much better than Dereon! I can’t wait to see her dress line which launched at New York fashion week; I have faith that she can bring it with fierce frocks! Maybe she has enlisted Christian Siriano as head designer, she like the rest of us, loved him!

Out:
50 Cent & G-Unit:

Do I even have to elaborate?!? Nothing like Hanes beefy T-‘s and cheap embroidered logos!!

JLO
No More Jenny from the block.. woowhooo!! Well, she’s not gone yet… but on her way out. Now I was completely unaware that there are 25 JLO stores, and 13 more in the works. What can they possibly be selling to fill a boutique! I tired researching the supposed store locations, but shopjlo.com isn’t even running! Please tell me if you’ve seen one of the phantom stores and wonders they behold within!

Also Out:

• Amanda Bynes, Venus Williams, SJP and anyone else who created a line for Steve and Barry’s! Due to financial troubles S&B have closed 103, proving that even celebrities hawking crap can’t save you!
• Nicky Hilton: What is sad about this is she tried to make high end quality goods, yet her sisters mass produced crap is a success! I always wonder how it must be to be the other Hilton.

I vacillate between two extremes in most things and when it comes to dessert it is either cupcakes or crème brulee.  This segment is devoted to that piece of Americana that always finds it way to my mouth: Cupcakes!

Vanilla Bake Shop Cupcake Minis

mmmmm.....cupcakes

On Wilshire Blvd at 5^th avenue is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it storefront with the most resounding name…Vanilla Bake Shop.  Like the treats themselves the shop has a distinct retro vibe that is not overdone.  But it’s the delicacies in the cases that make this bit of Wilshire Blvd worth the drive into Santa Monica.  Sure, they have those regular sized cupcakes…but who wants one cupcake with just one flavor when you can have three (or four or five) mini cupcakes in varying flavors!  The filled cupcakes are the reason to visit this lovely little shop and I’ve been told that the Red Velvet is one of the best you will ever have (personally, Red Velvet is just not my thing) but don’t get my started on the Meyer Lemon Raspberry!  And the ice box treats are like mini pies waiting to burst in your mouth!

So next time your in Santa Monica you must seek out Vanilla Bake Shop on the south side of Wilshire at 5^th Ave and be prepared to drop a few $20s on the most delish cupcakes your palette will ever enjoy!