Yes this weekend is the 4th of July! Our great independence from Great Britain! Well even though I recently became a US citizen a few years back, I always laugh at this dual prospect. Since I am also British. But who cares about that! What we do care about though is how to look good this weekend, right!

Well here are a few of my beauty and fashion tips for all you ladies out there!

Keep it strong in navy blue

Yep keep those blues a flyin’! And if you like beauty accessories, go for the blue nail polish. I like the Sephora brand for all its sparkling goodness!
Sephora Brand Glittering Nail Polish lets you treat your tips to a sparkling assortment of eye-catching shades. These scene-stealing colors add a touch of dramatic flair to your latest look. A glam-girl is not fully dressed without a glittering gleam on her nails this weekend!

Be hot in your red

Yes it’s cool to be hot in red! Try on a red t-shirt to sport your patriotic goodness! This one is from Dillards for $10.00.

Keep it clean in white

White jeans have never looked so good! These are from True Religion for $195.00. Just be sure not too get any ketchup on them from your hamburger this weekend! Happy 4th of July!

We always want to be like the stars, but how can we reach that far? Well one way is to use the same product that they do! From Brad Pitt to Cameron Diaz,
Epicuren Products have been the keenest choice for the stars beauty regimen. And mostly this luxurious brand is spread through word of mouth, as some of the best products for skin care on the market.
They specialize in so many different areas and are ever changing and evolving to create the most luxurious and natural ingredients! And what is Epicuren’s mission? To enhance their customer’s well being and personal evolution. (I can see why so many stars use this product). What’s their secret? The enzymes in Epicuren products is used to improve the overall health of your skin. You can expect to see an improvement in color, tone, texture, and the appearance of fine lines. Initially when utilizing the Epicuren Discovery® enzymes, the skin will go through a transition period and may purge impurities, leaving your skin feeling tight and dry. This effect is an indication that the enzymes are working. It is important to moisturize more frequently during this transition. In a couple of weeks the skin will balance out, leaving a healthy glow.

Go to www.epicuren.com to see more of this exceptional product to the stars!

Win This! Our Summer Giveaway Is This Fantastic Sauipe Swimwear Bikini!

Sauipe Swimwear is a fun Brazilian line that offers sexy-yet-wearable styles and a diverse array of cuts! With exclusive and fashionable patterns. Sauipe Swimwear uses hand-embroidery and high-quality silky textiles in their fun designs. With summer drawing near, so does the beach! And you can’t be with out your bikini or your swimsuit. Now what’s great is that Sauipe does offer both. I love this brand, and think that it is fun and very colorful. This is a real great essential design mark from Brazil.

And it can’t get any better knowing that this great line was also featured in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue! All Sauipe suits feature an updated Brazilian cut, which is super sexy! But you have to have to have the comfort with the style! And Sauipe offers a bit more comfort and ‘wear ability’ than a traditional Brazilian bikini. If you love the line you can shop online at www.sauipeswimwear.com

To enter the Sauipe Giveaway, email your info to jacquelineh@coutureinthecity.com, and title your email Saupie Giveaway. This giveaway will run until June 19th 2009. So good luck!

For all you passionate about fragrances out there, Diptyque Cologne Collection was just crowned the celestial favorite from the Grand Prix du Parfum. Which is the equivalent to the ‘Oscars’ in the fragrance world.

For the 17th edition of the French awards, Diptyque’s Cologne Collection – L’Eau de L’Eau, L’Eau de Néroli and L’Eau des Hespérides – that launched in June 2008, won the Grand Prix du Parfum in the exclusive distribution category. The Cologne Collection was up against such prestigious brands as Chanel, Guerlain and Frédéric Malle.

So how did this luxury line fair up with its earthy, citrus and floral scents? The L’Eau de L’Eau was a keen favorite of mine. With a clean and fresh scent, it would sure go over well past my nose. Lest any judges. Also the L’Eau des Hespérides, was just spectacular. Airing different floral notes that jumped around in pure divinity. As one might say. Of course the trinity series, including the L’Eau de Néroli. Which bounces with citrus notes, are quite the sure takers this year when it comes to a fantastic fragrance that goes the distance. Bravo!

Article by © Jacqueline H. - Senior Writer, Editor 2009

May is IMAN month! And all month long we are celebrating this exceptional global goddess! Thanks to IMAN Cosmetics and IMAN Global Chic. We are offering you our readers a chance to win a wonderful set from her exclusive IMAN Global Chic line. So here is what’s up for grabs! One lucky winner will win this lovely pair of IMAN Sunglasses and an exclusive ring by IMAN!

1 - IMAN Global Chic Signature Sunglasses - HSN Price: $44.95

Protect yourself from the sun and herds of paparazzi with these designer oversized sunglasses from IMAN Global Chic. Black, tortoise (brown) or plum.

1 - IMAN Global Chic 15.50ct Black CZ Golden Goddess Ring HSN Price: $39.95 Clearance Price: $19.95

Uber urbane is this IMAN Global Chic 15.50ct Black CZ Golden Goddess Ring. Checkerboard faceting swathes the cushion-cut black CZ, which centers the ring from a prong setting. For distinct contrast, hammered texturing details the shoulders, gallery and prongs of the ring for a superbly sophisticated look.

To enter this wonderful giveaway submit your info at jacquelineh@coutureinthecity.com. And title your email - IMAN Giveaway 2. This will run until May 31st 2009. So good luck!

Go to Iman Global Chic to find out more about this exclusive accessories line!

I also had the wonderful opportunity of speaking with IMAN! Read this exclusive footage from my interview!

Jacqueline H: You also have an exclusive fashion accessories line with HSN - IMAN Global Chic. With a variety of jewelry and handbags to choose from. Where do you get your design inspirations for these fantastic accessories?

IMAN: Well a lot of my inspiration is gained from my travels around the world. And the Global Chic Line has influences of turkish and asian designs. Since their jewelry is very intricate. And each piece really shows an appreciation of fashion. Plus I wanted the line to be affordable, so that women can have well designed, and executed accessories at the best value possible. The Global Chic Line is sold exclusively through HSN, and is hugely successful!

Jacqueline H: To get back to fashion and beauty. IMAN we and our readers would love to know some of your fashion and beauty tips!

IMAN: Well I always say, “Stay away from trends!” And stick to what looks good on you! I love heels, but they can be so uncomfortable, so I will go with flats.

Jacqueline H: What beauty product or fashion accessory can’t you live without?

IMAN: I love jeans! They are great! As you can dress them up or down.

Jacqueline H: What do you do to relax with such a busy lifestyle?

IMAN: Well I love to go for massage. And I think that it is an essential, rather than a splurge! And having time spent with yourself, is so important, as we deserve it!

Jacqueline H: How do you stay in such great shape? And do you have any tips for us that we could use!

IMAN: Well I have to say that I have great genes! (Laughing). Well I love to walk a lot, especially around New York City. And get my cardiovascular in that way.

Jacqueline H: I always love to add a fashion trivia question to my interviews! IMAN there was a famous french designer, he use to say that “Fashions fade, but that style is eternal”?

IMAN: Now if you never mentioned that it was a ‘he’, I would of guessed Coco Chanel. But since you did I would guess Yves Saint Laurent?

Jacqueline H: Ah you are so good at this! That is correct! And yes I probably did give it away by mentioning that:).

Giveaway Disclaimer: Couture in the City and the featured product is not responsible for any errors that may occur during the giveaway. Nor for any incorrect winners information that may occur during the drawing. To be entered into the giveaway follow instructions. A winner is picked one time only.

Article by © Jacqueline H. - Senior Writer, Editor 2009

Go eco chic with Chloe and Jane’s travel kit!-$20.00

These fabulous Eco-Chic Travel Kits are the perfect gift! For your at home spa needs made simple. With natural ingredients, recyclable packaging, and air-friendly design make these cool and green on the go.

Like many new beauty brands out there. More and more are converting over to a more ‘natural’ and ‘eco friendly’ sensibility. And Chole & Jane have jumped onto that motto. Like many of their predecessors created an ‘at home’ spa product, which quickly turned into a need to expand the idea into a viable and well worth beauty product. Then comes ‘Chole & Jane’. Super hip and chic, this brand appeals with its clean but fun branding. And its luscious contents, with lavender sage, citrus chamomile and fresh linen - which are to die for. With sugar scrubs, which have that ‘made at home’ feel. To lotions and body washes galore. Chloe & Jane are well on their way with’ eco friendly’ appeal and charm.

To enjoy more of this fun and eco beauty product go to www.chloeandjane.com.

Say farewell to all your chemical and paraben invested beauty products for organic skin care with a purpose by Eve Organics!

Eve Organics is beginning to make its mark on the skin care industry! Developed by two driven female entrepreneurs, their main goal is to offer safe and natural skin care and help educate women on the dangers of conventional cosmetics. Their vision behind the brand is not only to sell safe products, but to operate in a socially responsible manner, as well as do their part in protecting the environment.

This line goes beyond just making you look fabulous, it truly rejuvenates damaged skin, while protecting it from the sun and environmental irritants. Unlike other natural skin care products, Eve Organics has a bold, solid purpose, which is to invest money into what goes into the bottle, not the bottle itself.

Start each day with one of the six hydrating and stimulating skincare collections- each targeting skin’s needs while getting right to the point of concern. With a wide range of cleansers, toners, moisturizers and body products, you can be sure to find the exact combo that hydrates and improves skin. Essential organic aloe and natural oils are the basis for every product making skin incredibly soft and radiant.

Immunity (All Skin Types)- an extra boost of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals formulated into products needed on a daily basis
Balance (Combination)- for hormonal irregularities effecting the skin
Clarity (Oily)- for acne prone and oily skin
Renewal (Dry)- for mature and dry skin

And how did I love it? I tried their ‘Immunity’ line, which is just fantastic! The packaging is wonderful, and lives up to their ‘all natural’ motto. But the product itself is sensational! With very organic, and earthy scents. Upon gliding on the lotions, one is overcome with the delicate and healthy scents. Which upon application, are extremely relaxing. The face scrub is delicate, but gets the job done. Plus the hand lotion from the immune line is just superb.

So to enjoy this lovely skincare line for yourself, go to Eve Organics to shop for your skin care needs!

May is Iman month! And all month long we are celebrating this exceptional global goddess! Thanks to Iman Cosmetics we are offering you our readers a chance to win a wonderful set from her exclusive cosmetics line. So here is what’s up for grabs! One lucky winner will win this lovely collection of Iman make-up;

1 IMAN Face Kit Palette, St. Tropez - $19.99

Capture the decadent elegance of days spent basking in the sizzling St. Tropez heat and nights sipping Merlot on the French Riviera without braving the transcontinental flight with the IMAN Mediterranean Makeup Collection. Jet-setting glamour is only a brush stroke away.

1 Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Afterglow - $14.99

This sheer bronzing powder gives skin a bronzed glow and can be worn as an all-over complexion enhancer or as a blush.

4 x IMAN Luxury Eye Defining Powder - $10.99

IMAN Luxury eye Defining Powder is a versatile new product that combines the precise definition of an eyeliner with the silky application of an eye shadow and the pearlescent finish of a shimmer powder. 4 Shades: Vixen, Black Magic, Bewitched, Wicked.

2 x Luxury Lip Shine - $9.99

Luxury Lip Stains in Expose and Fantasy will replace round out the Lip Stain palette with soft, flesh tone color that’s wearable and natural on all skin tones.

To enter this wonderful giveaway submit your info at jacquelineh@coutureinthecity.com. And title your email - Iman Giveaway 1. This will run until May 24th 2009. So good luck!

Go to Iman Cosmetics to find out more about this exclusive beauty line!

I also had the wonderful opportunity of speaking with Iman! Read this exclusive footage from my interview!

Jacqueline H: Now we are all huge fans of you Iman! I know for sure I have been all my life! As a young girl and also growing up with fashion. I must say you not only inspired my modeling career, but also my art career! Now I am not the only one who is star struck by you! How does it feel to have two decades of being an Icon in the fashion and beauty industry?

Iman: Oh you know it gets old! (laughing). And actually it is three decades. I started modeling in 1975! And yes it feels good and like fighting it at the same time! There is actually a show here at the Metropolitan Musuem of Art in New York, called ‘The Model as Muse’. It is about iconic fashion models from the 1940’s up until modern day. But you know growing up, I had never seen a fashion magazine. And so to be considered a muse is an honor. And especially to follow in the footsteps of other models who came before me, such as Beverly Johnson was a true inspiration.

Jacqueline H: I love your cosmetics line - Iman Cosmetics. You have cultivated a brand that truly is designed for women with skin of color. Tell me beyond the obvious; what was your main focus for this cosmetic line? And how effectively has it inspired women’s lives around the world?

Iman: Well the inspiration itself, ‘the seed’, was implanted in my head, the third day I shot for American Vogue in 1975. The make-up artist asked me if I had brought my own foundation with me. Since back then, there was no foundation for women of color. So most of the time my skin had an almost ‘grayish’ appearance! So I had to mix and match my foundations.
But I knew that I had to come up with something! So when I stopped modeling in 1989, young girls and women would always ask me, ‘where could they buy a foundation for their skin type?’ So I decided to create IMAN Cosmetics in 1994. It was a huge success over night! And the foundation is the number one selling product from the line. The line is designed for asian, latin, and black skin types. And we now sell Iman Cosmetics all over the world!

To read more of my exclusive interview with Iman tune in next week!

Giveaway Disclaimer: Couture in the City and the featured product is not responsible for any errors that may occur during the giveaway. Nor for any incorrect winners information that may occur during the drawing. To be entered into the giveaway follow instructions. A winner is picked one time only.

Article by © Jacqueline H. - Senior Writer, Editor 2009

Go to Sonoma Soap Company to find out more about this lovely product line!

Sonoma Soap Company is introducing a new line of all-natural body care products, including shampoos, conditioners, liquid soaps, bath and shower gels, shaving creams and body lotions that capture the essence and organic goodness of California’s wine country.

How did I love this exceptional line of fruity, zesty, and flowery goodness? Well I loved them all! With citrus, lavender and other great essences to choose from. I found that this line stayed true to it’s motto of ‘all natural’. With that The Sononma legacy captures the essence of the romance, imagery and lifestyle of the wine country. Bringing together a sophisticated sense of style, whilst taking pleasure in the finer qualities of life and an appreciation of the natural and fit lifestyle. Sonoma Valley’s unspoiled beauty and healthy lifestyle are captured in every refined Sonoma Soap Company product.

Every Sonoma Soap Company product is made from a blend of certified organic ingredients, including lavender, citrus, wildflowers, cedarwood, oatmeal, maple and more. The products are between 99% and 99.7% natural, 100% vegetarian, paraben and phthalate free, and the colors and fragrances are 100% pure, with no artificial aromas.

Saturday night Diesel celebrated bravery and the launch of their new men’s fragrance, Only The Brave, in Los Angeles.  Common, the face of the new fragrance, performed an intimate live concert at the Diesel boutique on Melrose.  The GRAMMY-winning hip-hop artist’s performance, embodied the spirit of determination and perseverance.   

“I’ve always thought Diesel was a progressive, fresh brand—it has a classic feel, but pushes the envelope,” Common explains. “I wanted to partner with Diesel because that’s really what I’m about too—to be an individual and an artist, it takes both bravery and courage.”

The new fragrance, Only The Brave, captures the essence of the Diesel man in a bottle.  The scent represents the qualities of the brave, symbolized by a fist that tells several stories: facing forward, the fist evokes power and energy; upright, it stands for self-affirmation; raised, it signifies victory, success and engagement.  Embrace your inner rebel with Only The Brave, scented with powerful, provocative notes including lemon, leather, cedar wood and amber. 

WHAT IT COSTS: Eau de Toilette 1.7oz, $52.50; Eau de Toilette 2.5oz, $65.00; After Shave Lotion 3.4 oz, $45.00; After Shave Balm 3.4oz, $45.00; Shower Gel 6.7oz, $28.00

WHERE TO FIND IT: The recently opened Fifth Avenue Diesel Flagship in New York, Diesel boutiques, Diesel.com, Macy’s, Dillard’s and other major department stores.