With the holiday season in full swing what better way to celebrate, shop and give back than with Dress for Success. Dress for Success is an organization with a long-standing history of working to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in both work and in life. To raise money for their incredibly important mission the organization puts on their annual fundraiser Shop for Success.

Shop for Success is Dress for Success’ largest fundraising events that brings people together for fun nights of shopping for a charitable cause. This can’t miss event brings together thousands of off the rack designer labels and showcases them under one fabulous roof. Items are marked down to unbelievable prices for a limited time only, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to support the complete powerful and personal transformations of women Dress for Success helps. During the event attendees get a chance to brush elbows with Hollywood celebrities at the opening night gala, shop alongside the who’s-who of L.A. as they dig for designer label scores, bid on exclusive items in the silent auction, and help make the powerful programming at Dress For Success possible. By Supporting shop for success, you are empowering women and families, which makes your shopping that much more impactful.

This year’s Shop for Success event kicked off on November 30th and was hosted by actresses Garcelle Beauvais, designer Michael Costello, and actresses Perrey Reeves, and Katheryn Winnick. Lisa Ling, Natalie Morales, Shaden Abboushi, Caitlin Carmichael, and Janelle Shirtcliff were among some of the celebrities who came to support this important charitable event. Since starting its operations in 1997, Dress for Success has served over 1 million women and has expanded to almost 160 cities in 30 countries. Dress for Success services are designed to help women find jobs and remain employed.

With summer coming to close and fall quickly approaching one thing is for sure after catching all those summer rays your skin is in need of some tender love and care. What better way to give your skin that much needed refresh then with Face Haus. Since its launch in 2013 Face Haus has quickly become the go to for ‘Facials for the People.’ It’s your one stop shop for getting quality luxurious facials for a price that doesn’t drain your bank account. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to pampering I’m all in especially if its keeping my skin glowing and looking its best.

From West Hollywood, Santa Monica, the South Bay, to the newest Face Haus location at the USC Village this growing company is making the world of spa facials approachable, affordable, and attainable to everyone. Face Haus doesn’t only cater women, but men as well who account for 30% of their clientele.

Former Bachelor cutie, Nick Viall joined Face Haus for the grand opening of their newest location at USC Village. While at the opening he was treated to his very first facial and instantly became a fan of the process and couldn’t get over how relaxing and pampered he felt.

Whether you need your skin glowing, exfoliated, calmed down from a pesky break out, or a quick pick me up for your eyes, lips, or pores Face Haus and their team of experts have a solution for you. So gift yourself some me time and get your skin at its best before the fall, and holiday season come in full blast with all its parties and photo ups.

They say that one small act of kindness or good has the potential to cause a ripple effect of incredible change. Today’s Promises a pending 501(c)3 organization is doing just that by helping change the lives of Haitian children affected by the 2010 earthquake that shook the country to its core causing catastrophic amounts of devastation. The organization’s  mission is to empower, educate, feed, shelter, love, and give hope to these incredible children.

Today’s Promises emerged as a continuation of the work started by The Mission Light Church of Life in Haiti. The Mission Light Church of Life after the 2010 earthquake established an orphanage as a way to help children affected and left parentless by the natural disaster that killed many. Despite the church’s intentions they simply lacked necessary resources to keep the provisions up for the children. Inspired by the incredible work being done to help these incredible kids Today’s Promises emerged and has been working ever since to provide and change these young lives presently and in the future.

To raise awareness and funds for the children Today’s Promises hosted a Poolside Fundraiser at Bella Villa Sul Monte in Los Angeles, California. The poolside fundraiser helped raise awareness for the children and provide them with all the materials necessary for them to thrive going forward. The villa was filled with various auction items signed by different celebrities such as The Beatles, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, and showcased various artworks for guest to bid on. Auction proceeds raised would be going towards helping these children. Attendees were also able to experience the insightful stories on the children being helped by Today’s Promises. Giving people a real opportunity to learn about these amazing children and put faces to cause.

The work being done by Today’s Promises is not only important, but necessary. By empowering and giving these children a chance at better lives they are improving the prospects of the future as children really are the hope to creating a better more compassionate world. To get involved, learn more, or help out anyway you can you can simply visit the Today’s Promises’ website: www.todayspromises.org

If you’re single, own a smartphone, and haven’t been living under a rock of obscurity chances are you have ventured into the dating app world of swipe right or swipe left. It’s hard not to get sucked into the world of dating apps whether it is out of curiosity or the desire to find that connection. Let’s face it dating is far from easy, but alas we keep doing it in hopes of finding the one.  Whether that one we find is a forever kind of love or short fling is entirely up to us.

With our smartphones basically being attached to us at all times it’s no wonder why apps like Tinder and Bumble have become so popular and common among people. So how does a new app like Flirtar set itself apart and stand out? Well by making themselves the world’s first augmented reality dating app.

Flirtar put the fun back in using a dating app by taking some of the interactive elements that people went crazy over when Pokémon Go came out, and put it in their app to create a truly unique experience.  The app uses state-of-the-art technology and smart algorithms to locate matches for you. It will also pin point nearby matches, while determining compatibility using a simple point of your mobile device by facial recognition. The app goes one step further and maps out exciting venues for you and your match to hang out.

Flirtar kicked off its launch party at Skybar at The Mondrian in Los Angeles. It was definitely a night full of fun and connecting with matches. Chloe Bridges and Brandi Cyrus were also in attendance proving that everyone is just looking for that perfect match. So forget about trying to get that invite to “Celebrity Tinder,” Raya it’s officially the age of Flirtar. Go out and catch all the dates you can like you did for countless nights with Pokémon Go.

TV personality and fashionista Vanessa Simmons was all smiles as she rang in her 34th birthday at the W Hotel for Splash Night Fridays sponsored by Paris Night LA and French Tuesday in Los Angeles last Friday.

At 34 the daughter of hiphop legend Rev Run of Run DMC proves getting older just means getting better and even more stunning. With her newly launched fashion line, Bad Butterfly 2017 is proving to be a year of continued success for the star. In honor her birthday festivities the Splash Night waitress all donned swimsuits from the line on Friday night.

Vanessa celebrated with a group of close friends including Ray Cunningham from Love & Hip Hop and Spring Mooney, daughter of comedian Paul Mooney. She and her guests spent the night enjoying music and the  fun atmosphere while sipping on VieVite Rosé wine and specialty cocktails with Bulldog Gin and Perrier flavored sparkling water.

With the summer in full swing, and LA’s great weather all year around the W Hotel in Hollywood is leading the Friday night fun this summer with it’s weekly Splash Night Fridays. Splash Night kicked off the fun on the hotel’s rooftop June 16th and the festivities continue all the way to September 9th. This isn’t just your simple rooftop party with a great view it is also fully stocked with specialty cocktails, A-list DJs, a dance floor, and surprise performances. Each week’s theme this year is based on a famous beach or hot vacation spot from around the world. So if you’re not going on vacation this summer no worries Splash Night has got you covered.

What sets Splash Night apart from other events you’ll find this summer in Hollywood is the attention to detail the staff puts into planning things each week. From making sure each week’s theme is perfectly executed for guest upon entrance to the amazing cocktail menu that feature some of the hottest spirits from around the world as well as some refreshing non-alcoholic rinks. Bulldog Gin is among one of the alcoholic spirits on the menu that is making an impression on guest this year. Gin is an already popular favorite in the European cocktail scene that is slowly making a name for its self in the states as well. Splash Night’s signature cocktails French 75, #SplashNight VIP, and French Tuesday put a fun and refreshing spin on gin. But if gin isn’t your thing Splash Night also offers Canard Duchene Champagne, VieVite Rose Wine, and low calorie cocktails by SlimChic.

So join the festivities with Splash Night this summer and take part of one of summer’s best rooftop parties. It’ll be your Friday staycation away from it all.

FYF Fest announced today that Kanye West would be headlining the festival this Saturday, August 22nd in place of Frank Ocean. According to FYFFest.com, Frank Ocean cancellation was “decided on his own terms.”

Kanye joins a roster of talented performers including Bloc Party, Savages, Morrissey, Bell & Sebastian, FKA Twigs, Laura Marling, among many others.

FYF takes place this weekend, August 22 and 23 at the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena and Exposition Park.

One day before releasing their second album, “Highlights,” Tanlines brought their U.S. summer tour to an overflowing crowd at the Echoplex in Los Angeles—their favorite city in which to play music, “and we can’t say that at every show,” praised percussionist/keyboardist Jesse Cohen at the May 18th show.

Cohen and vocalist/guitarist Eric Emm formed the electronic indie rock group in 2008, but this show was only the third time they’ve played with a full band. “We decided two main things about this album [Highlights] before we started it,” Cohen told Rolling Stone.  “We wanted to try to work outside of our studio in Brooklyn, outside of just looking at a computer, and we wanted to try to incorporate more of our live setup.”

In fact, some songs made their live debut, like “Green Grass” from “Mixed Emotions,” the band’s 2012 freshman album that earned them stage time last year at FYF, Red Bull Sound Select, and First City Festival, as well as gigs alongside alternative favorites like Vampire Weekend, The xx and Yeasayer.

Photo credit Carl Pocket, courtesy of the Echo

Collectively donning skinny slacks, an old white tee, and a man-bun, the crew undoubtedly washed up from the east side –though perhaps unwashed.  Indeed, Jessie confirmed they’d worked on “Highlights” with producer Patrick Ford up the street in Atwater Village, when they weren’t collaborating with Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor back home in NYC.  From coast to coast, the band’s hipster cred is strong, but devoid of affectation.  In a fog of pinks, blues and yellows came tropical synth grounded in a haunting soulfulness that perpetually surprises and satisfies.

Weaving emotional honesty into the fabric of a successful pop song, Emm sang, “I fall to pieces when we’re apart,” which had everyone joining in on the last drawn-out note, “away,” in spite of themselves.  “Pieces” showcases Emm’s voice as nearly unbridled as it builds, echoing the tension between Cohen’s precise drums, clicks and rattles and the band’s graceful melodies.

The fact is, Tanlines is more perfectly honest through its opposing pairs. “The thing about our music is it’s a balance between light and dark, happy and sad,” said Emm.  “The music will be happy, but there’ll be a sort of melancholic aspect to the vocal.”

The bright steel-y beats paired with moody 80s melodies in “Slipping Away,” which had the house shaking with energy, also alluded to a pathetically fading romance.

A leftover piece of confetti floated off of the rafters above us, “I feel like I just got up here,” said Cohen as he paused to re-tighten one of his symbols, “That must mean I’m having fun.”  He looked out over the crowd, taking it all in.

Rounding out the emotional range of the new album came the more leisurely “Two Thousand Miles,” and “Invisible Ways,” which conjure energy moving through molasses, pronounced by Emm’s thick, melting vocals.  Though their rhythms were impeccably coordinated, each man on stage seemed to be having his own private sensory experience, a quiet confidence gained with maturity.

“I’d call Highlights the album where things started making more sense,” said Emm, reflecting on the band’s transition from the post-youth existentialism in “Mixed Emotions” to a more revealing self-exploration and acceptance.  And the Echoplex, whose speakers are often blown out with muffled moans, had never sounded so sophisticated.

Getting to know Tanlines involves binge-playing a series of would-be singles, so once you’ve stopped obsessing over “All of Me,” which earned a slot on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Songs of 2012, and this year’s “Pieces,” we suggest going for:
1. Brothers
2. Green Grass
3. Not the Same
4. Slipping Away
5. Real Life

Their new websiteis a mock Netflix where you can purchase their new album, buy tickets to their tour, AND enjoy descriptions of their hits as bromantic movie summaries, such as: “Pieces: When bae is away, all hell breaks loose in the dramedy of love,” leaving absolutely nothing to be desired.

L.A.’s most beauty-savvy men and women gathered at the luxury-boutique Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood on Thursday to preview Alcon’s AIR OPTIX® COLORS contact lenses.  Part of their #LiveinColor campaign, now two years running, the lenses highlight Alcon’s 3-in-1 color technology in subtle and vibrant shades for a blended, natural look that isn’t always seen with other brands.

Instead of having every fashion blogger in the L.A. area packed into a banquet room, the eyewear mogul held several intimate gatherings throughout the day, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the open bar and pick the brains of the Color Squad, Alcon’s dream cast of celebrity trend-starters.

Lacy Redway, llaria Urbinati, and Scott Barnes

Collected like close friends on a white linen couch was award-winning fashion stylist, Ilaria Urbinati (clients: Nina Dobrev, Shailene Woodley, Lizzy Caplan, and Bradley Cooper), celebrated hair stylist, Lacy Redway (clients: Olivia Palermo, Angie Harmon, Uzo Aduba, Carmen Ejogo) and famed make-up artist Scott Barnes (clients: Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Williams, Naya Rivera).

While the advice they imparted earns the A-listers’ pretty pennies, the conversation felt more like gabbing over gimlets:

Speaking to some of the hottest colors for summer, Urbinati said, “People are often scared to wear a bright yellow, but this is the season to make that bold move.  You can probably pull it off better than you think.  Stay away from the olive or mustard yellows, and stick to a true sunshine.”

“Take it once piece at a time.” Barnes added, “Try a yellow jacket or a yellow mini skirt.  It doesn’t have to be a big bird situation.”

True to her word, Urbinati dressed Shailene Woodley in a long-sleeve white and “sunshine” yellow Tenesha gown from Emilia Wickstead’s Spring 2015 collection for her Berlin premier of “Insurgent”—the perfect occasion for dressing “dauntless.”   Pulling up a picture of Shailene on her iPhone, Ilaria couldn’t resist pointing out the Christian Dior Fall 2013 ankle-strap pumps, “I go crazy for the heels Dior comes up with.  This one feels classic and at the same time, like a work of art.”

Shailene Woodley in Emilia Wickstead’s Tenesha gown at “Insurgent” premier in Berlin

Feeling the glow from head to toe, Barnes set us straight: “The Ombre isn’t out, but the ‘Home-bre’ is.  It can easily look like a DIY job.”  Redway chimed in, “Be clear with your colorist that you want sun-kissed roots and a natural progression from roots to tips.”

“With these bright colors around your face, you’re going to want to bring in a contrasting liner and shadow that still makes your eyes the center of attention,” Barnes noted, “A deep plum shadow brings out brown, hazel, grey, green and blue eyes.  In other words, it’s plum and done, but eye color is where we can have some fun.”

Gone are the days when colored lenses were considered a trendy affectation.  Transforming eye color is a fashion-forward phenomenon that redefines a woman’s cache of looks.

But it isn’t until you try on a pair yourself that you see what’s possible.  Alcon came equipped with their team of Optometrists to help us look at ourselves through a new lens.

Choosing “Sterling Grey” out of the nine different AIR OPTIX® COLORS, a man who ordinarily has brown eyes said, “I never thought I could pull off looking mysterious.  I feel kind of sexy!”

I put the “Subtle Green” shade on my own finger, and the contact felt just as thin as the ones I’m used to wearing every day.  While I love my blue eyes, my red hair looked two shades brighter when my eyes were green, and yet I had everyone thinking they were my true eye color.  “You still look completely natural,” someone said, “except now I would believe you’re a Lannister.”  Picking up the Game of Thrones reference, I replied, “Maybe Joffrey should have worn AIR OPTIX® COLORS Subtle Green lenses…”

One woman posed to the Color Squad, “Is this just another way of telling women that their natural appearance isn’t good enough?”

“It’s so individual why we choose to change our look,” Redway replied, “So you have to look within yourself.  Playing with color shouldn’t be about feeling dissatisfied with yourself, but rather wanting to get creative, match your mood, or be bold.”

Women get the chance to try on Alcon’s AIR OPTIX COLORS contact lenses

Colored contacts present a fresh form of expression without the commitment of a permanent change, which is the case with many of today’s popular beauty trends.  No lazers, cuts or injections.  It feels more like putting on a coat of nail polish.  And as many women know, there’s nothing like looking down at a fresh pedi to feel renewed.

Alcon wants men and women to feel comfortable in their lenses when it comes to color and fit.  Visit their website to virtually try on each available color or receive an in-office trial offer.  Then, visit an eye care professional who can confirm that your contacts fit properly and administer a prescription.

Chatting with Ilaria, she opened the door to her life filled with glamourous moments while being as down to earth as her suede fringe jacket.  She’s more concerned with making her clients feel great than the hoopla that no doubt surrounds her.  “Film stars get to be themselves for once when they’re on the red carpet.  I try to put them in something they really like.”  She shared what are sure to be her go-tos this summer:

Live in Color: Sunshine Yellow and Marsala Red

Blake Lively in Cannes and Rihanna at the MET gala

Still in Style: Jane Birkin late 60’s: tribal patterns, fringe, high-waisted
Pay to Impress: Handbags: Chloe
Safe to Save: Shoes: Vince
Know Where to Go: The Reformation, Opening Ceremony, Fred Segal