Now You Can Shop for the Greater Good (Really!) Thanks to NOVICA

We were recently given the opportunity to try out NOVICA.com, an online marketplace specializing in handmade goodies by talented artists and artisans from around the globe. We thoroughly enjoyed reading the in-depth bios and "meeting" the various artists as we browsed the broad selection of handcrafted leather bags, paintings, home decor, fashions, and jewelry - which covered a wide range of pricepoints starting at around the $20 mark and on up. And when our necklace arrived, it was carefully wrapped in layers of tissue paper and nestled in a beautiful handmade-paper box with a note from the artist: the lovely Matta Nandrakwang. A gemology school graduate, she was born in Chiang Rai - the northernmost province in Thailand (next to Burma) - a region rich with gems which helped spark her lifelong passion for bling. "Ever since I was a young girl, I have been enamored with the hill tribe people's love of jewelry," she explains in her bio. "I regularly saw people around me wearing jewelry. I recall seeing a hill tribe girl my age, seven at the time, wearing beautiful silver jewelry accessorizing her colorful costume. She had silver coins hanging around her face, more silver ornaments on her, as well as beautiful beads. I couldn't take my eyes off her! I don't remember exactly what I said to my father about her, but remember clearly that afterwards I got my first gold ring with a little blue star sapphire. I felt I was on top of the world."

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Project Runway's Mondo Guerra & Piperlime Raise Awareness for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research

The show's mondo popular finalist - whose celeb fan'age includes Rachel Zoe, Jessica Simpson & Heidi Klum - has teamed up with Piperlime on two limited-edition T-shirts that infuse his personal style and energetic graphics with his "Live and Love" passion. $20 of every $50 of every tee sold will be donated directly to amfAR to help end this global epidemic through innovative research. Fittingly, the tees will launch on World AIDS Day - Wednesday, December 1st. It's particularly fabulous that he's using his newfound celebrity to help gain awareness of a cause close to his heart: during Season 8, he announced he was HIV positive & has continued to be a vocal advocate of AIDS research.
Available exclusively at Piperlime.

A Totally Fabulous Purple Ostrich Bvlgari Clutch

WHO: you, of course
WHAT:  Bvlgari ostrich pochette
WHERE: Bulgari.com
WHEN: dressed up for cocktails or dinner; paired with your fave designer denim on a date; sexing up your     LBD or with a fab floral frock at any time
WHY: if you have to ask
...and, perhaps, most importantly,  
HOW: "Why, it's not two months rent, it's a fashion 'investment!'"

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Steal a Preppy/Edgy Look from the Boys

Men's fashion is getting so dandified of late, that it's a great place for fashionista to find ideas for her wardrobe.  When John Paul Gaultier sent a black 80s Members Only style jacket down his Fall 2009 runway paired with tweed trousers, an argyle sweater, and yes, black & white pointy Winklepickers, we knew we had to steal the look.  Keep the silhouette sleek, focus on tones that work together - black, white or cream, and shades of putty & gray - and stick to tough accessories like a man's oversize watch and snakeskin belt, and you'll look like a fashion pro:

Where to get the look:

Doma washed-leather biker jacket
 
Jos. A Bank argyle lambswool sweater
                                                                                                       
Donna Karan moleskin riding pants
 
Miu Miu python belt
 
TX Technoluxury Chronograph Steel Case Watch
 
See by Chloe bag
 
Black & white unisex winklepickers



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Get Glam & Gorgeous in Rich Purple this Fall

Yummy, raisin'y purple is a classy and versatile way to rock color this season, whether it's on your bod, your arm, or your lips.  Touches of silver add Disco Diva glam, such as a silvery fur coat (if you prefer faux, pick up something fab like this luxe "sheared mink"), sky-high leopard print booties and an edgy snake belt-cuff that matches without being too matchy.

Here's where to get the look:

Alexander Wang jersey dress 

YSL leopard-print ankle boots
                                                                    
Matthew Williamson rabbit coat
 
Miu Miu suede bag
 
Alexander McQueen skull-embellished cuff


Monica Vinader earrings

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Giorgio Armani Fall 2009 Beauty: Smoky Shades of Greige

The Fall 2009 face at Giorgio Armani Beauty contrasts a fresh, luminous complexion against a muted, almost monotone lip in soft plum (armanisilk Lipsilk in 92) - a blue/grey alternative to beige which adds intensity to the lip without taking away focus from the main event: the new smoky eye created using deep Greige tones. The star of the fall beauty lineup is undoubtedly the Manta Ray Eye Duo Palette, inspired by the brand's luxurious fashion accessories and rendered in an exotic, stippled pattern for creating subtle contours and highlights. “Eye shadow is about shading, and rather than adding shadows, these muted tones contour and define, accentuating the eye and the pupil; the focus is actually on the eye itself," notes celeb makeup artist Linda Cantello. "My favorite is the Greige and charcoal duo shade palette, but the pale lilac grey and fuchsia offer a really beautiful pop of color.” For contrast, try adding a sweep of slick of fast-drying, long-lasting Liquid Silk Eye Liner in intense Matte Charcoal Gray or Midnight Metallic Blue.

Cantello explains how to create the Armani runway "Greige" eye:


1. Contour the eye by sweeping the Greige shade along the crease of the eye. Then sweep the shade under the lower lash line and over the upper lash line. Add intensity with charcoal.

2.  A second option is to sweep the charcoal shadow over the whole lid, using the Greige to blend. For added intensity, apply midnight blue eyeliner along the upper lid lash line.

Giorgio Armani makeup is available at GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com.


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A Chance to Win a Super-Exclusive Pirelli Calendar & Do Some Good

Departures Magazine (published for select American Express cardholders) was selected to receive the Karl Lagerfeld photographed Pirelli Calendar, and decided to donate it to benefit the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets, a global grassroots campaign to raise awareness and funding to combat malaria. The 2011 Calendar, “Mythology,” reflects one of Lagerfeld’s deepest passions, Greek & Roman mythology, as depicted in 36 black and white photos portraying 24 different subjects, including gods, heroes and myths. And all that's required of you to enter for a chance to win is to donate at least $25. More info at CrowdRise.com.


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