Talk of Alabama Lifestyle Segment – Fall Beauty Must-Have Products

The weather’s cooler and that means it’s time to change our beauty arsenal.  I had the opportunity to visit Talk of Alabama and share Fall Beauty Must-Have Products.

This was an important lifestyle segment because we should alter products with the change of each season.  Thankfully, cosmetics companies are here to help us maintain our look (in-between professional appointments) with moisture enriched products and items that save time.

Faux Wrap Dress from New York & Co. All Eva Mendes on sale starting at $39.

The products I shared on ABC 33/40 included L’O’real Lip Palette, Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation, Flower Lip CremeCirca Lip & Cheek StainCirca Lip Polish, Circa LipstickFlower Hydrasilk Lip Butter, Evian Facial Spray Midst, and Hawaiian Tropics Weightless Sunscreen.

All of the beauty products listed can be purchased at Walmart, Target or a local drugstore.

Personally, my favorite product is the L’O’real Nude Lip Palette. This is a must-have item and I will explain more during the lifestyle segment.

Here’s the breakdown:

FACE

Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation

BODY

Evian Facial Spray Midst

Hawaiian Tropics Weightless Sunscreen

LIPS

L’O’real Lip Palette

Flower Lip Creme

Circa Lip & Cheek Stain

Circa Lip Polish

Circa Lipstick

Flower Hydrasilk Lip Butter

Tailgating and Visiting The Westin Hotel

Last weekend I took a road trip to my collegiate Homecoming celebration, Alabama A&M University.  I’m a traditional girl and returning as Alumni was a big accomplishment.

Aside from viewing the football game, I enjoyed Tailgating because it’s one big party filled with music, food, and a lot of fun!

My attire for the Tailgate was a crop top, high-waisted jeans, and sorority clutch. I selected a pair of heels for height but any true fashion girl has a set of flats nearby.  We also stayed at The Westin Huntsville and I was delighted with the view and room service.

Homecoming was an awesome event and I had a blast catching up with old friends!  Don’t forget to visit my IG account @kwest1908 to view more photos.

Nordstrom Fall Beauty Trend Week 2016

Nordstrom will host it’s annual Fall Beauty Trend Week to learn how to achieve the freshest runway-inspired looks for the season. Receive one-on-one time with Nordstrom beauty experts, tips and tricks to nail the newest trends and receive beauty buzz intel from industry insiders – it’s all happening at Perimeter Mall and it’s free to attend! Plus, you’ll get free samples and exclusive gifts with your purchases (while supplies last).
From September 18th – September 24th, Perimeter Mall will be hosting Beauty Trend Week! Details below:
Follow Nordstrom Beauty:
Twitter: @Nordstrom
Instagram: @Nordstrom
#Nordstrom

WEST ELM OPENS FIRST STORE IN MARYLAND

Home furnishings retailer West Elm announced the opening of its first Maryland location at 1301 Dock St. in downtown Baltimore, along the waterfront between Harbor East and Fells Point. The 11,377 square-foot retail Harbor Point location at the Exelon Building will open on Thursday, September 15 at 10 a.m., bringing approximately 30 jobs to the neighborhood. As part of West Elm’s LOCAL program, seven Maryland-based makers and designers will sell their products within the store’s fall assortment of modern furnishings and décor, and a complimentary Design Lab will offer services that support customers in their journey to express their personal style at home. “We are proud to open our first Maryland store in a neighborhood experiencing a renaissance with both locals and visitors,” says West Elm president Jim Brett. “Our goal is to become an active contributor to this historically conscious community, supporting their efforts to preserve the waterfront while sustainably revitalizing a once overlooked area of downtown Baltimore.”

The newly constructed Exelon Building is expected to bring a mix of shops, restaurants and entertainment to Harbor Point, originally a commercial corridor. West Elm Baltimore speaks to the neighborhood’s industrial and shipping heritage by incorporating salvaged materials sourced from Baltimore harbor into the interior’s architecture. Reclaimed pylons constructed from pine, spruce, and fir lumber, once part of the harbor docks, have been repurposed for the store’s ceiling and distinctive cash wrap design.

To celebrate the opening, West Elm partnered with Baltimore-based artist Tomahawk Design Co. to design a limited edition tote bag that will be presented to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase on opening day. Additional store opening activities will include a sweepstakes* offering local customers a chance to win a $2,000 gift card and an invitation to a private pre-opening celebration on Wednesday, September 14 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. A portion of the pre-opening celebration proceeds will benefit Living Classrooms Foundation, a local nonprofit organization aiming to strengthen communities and inspire young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training.

A selection of locally made products by seven Maryland-based makers and artisans will be a part of the West Elm Baltimore LOCAL assortment including:

Dylan Design Co.: Tables made of wood and metal and manufactured in Baltimore, MD.

Forty Third Place: Trays and wall art made from salvaged and reclaimed wood in Hyattsville, MD.

Foxwood Co.: Handmade sculptural vessels, dishes and objects carved from locally sourced wood in Annapolis, MD.

Radica Textiles: Pillowcases designed by hand and printed in small batches honoring Baltimore’s rich history in the textile industry.

The Vintage Vogue: Modern handpainted wood coasters that blend patterns and artfully crafted, minimalist shapes by a Baltimore-based artist.

Tomahawk Design Co.: Baltimore-based graphic design firm specializing in home goods, stationery and apparel.

● Waxing Kara: Beeswax-infused bath and beauty products made by a beekeeper in Owings Mills, MD. For up-to-date information on in-store promotions and events, customers are encouraged to “like” the West Elm Baltimore store on Facebook: www.facebook.com/westelmbmore/ and follow the store on Instagram: @westelmbmore. West Elm Baltimore is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The store’s address is 1301 Dock Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231 and the phone number is 410-244-0121. *Open only to residents that live within the Baltimore, MD area. Official rules of the sweepstakes can be found on the Baltimore Sweepstakes page.

About West Elm Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY since 2002, West Elm opened its first store in DUMBO, the neighborhood it still proudly calls home. With the mission of helping customers express their personal style at home, everything West Elm does is designed to make an impact in everyday life, from creating unique, affordable designs for modern living to its commitment to Fair Trade Certified, from LOCAL and handcrafted products to community-driven in-store events and collaborations. The brand operates 91 retail stores in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK, ships internationally to customers around the world and operates 11 stores in Mexico, the Middle East and Philippines through unaffiliated franchisees. In addition to home furnishings retail, West Elm operates West Elm Workspace with Inscape in the commercial furnishings industry. West Elm publishes the blog Front+Main and is part of an active community on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. West Elm is a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands.

### Contacts for West Elm: Andres (Dru) Ortega 718-780-0452 aortega2@wsgc.com Hannah Zeskind 718-780-4432 HZeskind@wsgc.co

SIMON AND CONDÉ NAST – 2016 LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION

Simon, the name behind America’s leading shopping destinations, has once again teamed with Condé Nast, a premier media company, to produce its second lifestyle publication – Simon Magazine – designed to provide readers with the latest must-haves and must-dos, from fashion and beauty to dining and entertainment. The global real estate leader has five properties in the Washington D.C. area — Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Hagerstown Premium Outlets, Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Queenstown Premium Outlets and St. Charles Towne Center. The company’s sixth Washington D.C.-area property, Clarksburg Premium Outlets, will open in Clarksburg, Maryland on Thursday, October 27.

This year’s magazine features full-price products from the iconic retail brands available nationwide at Simon Malls and also merchandise from Simon Premium Outlets® and Mills centers. The addition of Simon’s vast outlet and off-price brands to this year’s Simon Magazine is a reflection of the way today’s consumer (particularly the Millennial) likes to shop – across a high/low mix of brands and price-points. Three hundred thousand copies of the magazine will be direct-mailed to Condé Nast subscribers with the October editions of Vogue, Allure andGlamour.

“Once again we’re pleased to collaborate with Condé Nast for the second edition of Simon Magazine,” said Chidi Achara, Global Creative Director for Simon. “This year we focus on a stylish mix of aspirational and designer brands, using key seasonal trends to help our shoppers find their own style. The magazine celebrates the joy of discovering what’s right for you and the fun of shopping our centers with family and friends.”

“For the second issue of Simon magazine, we combined editorial content from our influential in-house brands with exclusive branded content to help readers craft a unique personal style for the fall season,” said Condé Nast Creative Director Raul Martinez. “It was a true creative and commercial step forward for our partnership with the team at Simon, and we’re very proud of the end result.”

Additionally, this year’s Simon Magazine will include an “Insider’s Guide” featuring the inside scoop on the best places to shop, dine and discover in 10 U.S. markets where you can find Simon centers. Consumers will also be able to engage with the magazine’s custom content via a digital flip-book version residing on simon.com, articles on Simon SAID (the brand’s editorial digital platform), and exclusive video and insider tips on Simon’s social media channels.

The magazine will reach consumers in mid-September in time for the fall fashion season and is also being distributed through personal shoppers and special events at Simon’s top Malls, Mills and Premium Outlets® across the country.

About Simon
Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and an S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

The Life of Pablo Pop-Up Shop – Merchandise Launch

Kanye West hosted “The Life of Pablo” Pop-Up Shop at 21 international locations. Merchandise sold at the stores included Basic T-Shirts, Bomber Jackets, Hoodies, Military Jackets, and Baseball Caps.

Several fashion enthusiasts visited the shop.  Potential customers waited outside for several hours to view the merchandise.  Thus, the collection received mixed reviews due to the price, style, and return policy of the clothing.

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Photo Credit via Twitter

Visual design of the pop-up shop was reminiscent of a minimalistic style with white walls, mirrors, and a few racks of clothing.

It was an interesting launch for “The Life of Pablo” Collection and sure this is only the beginning for the Music Artist and Fashion Designer.

CAMUTO GROUP and Ownership of SOLE SOCIETY

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Camuto Group today announced the acquisition of Sole Society.  As part of Camuto Group’s focus on digital innovation, the company has acquired the majority stake in Sole Society with the strategy of enhancing category offerings and continuing to build on the strong accessories platform through extensions in apparel and other key classifications.  In addition, the Sole Society brand will be developed for global wholesale opportunities in several categories.  The acquisition will also expand Camuto Group’s ecommerce footprint across a variety of brands. Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) will continue to carry Sole Society merchandise at Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com and will remain a minority owner.

Alex Del Cielo, Chief Executive Officer of Camuto Group, says: “We are excited to be growing the Sole Society brand platform and creating opportunities through digital innovation and category enhancements.  The team at Sole Society continues to be industry leaders in customer satisfaction and we plan to leverage their expertise to provide today’s consumer with the best experience in all channels, both online and in-store.  Furthermore, we are looking forward to working closely with Nordstrom to develop the business as part of our joint strategic efforts.”

As part of a continued focus on growth, Blake Nordstrom, Co-President of Nordstrom, Inc. said: “We applaud the job Andy Solomon and the team at Sole Society have done and think the long-term partnership created with Camuto Group is a terrific next step. Our focus is to offer customers highly relevant and differentiated product and our customers continue to respond favorably to the on-trend style Sole Society offers. We think Camuto Group is a great organization and we look forward to continuing to carry Sole Society’s product.”

Sole Society Chief Executive Officer, Andy Solomon, comments: “We are thrilled by the transaction and look forward to building brands with the Camuto Group team.  We anticipate accelerated growth through enhanced resources and the expansion of distribution that will fuel our continued development and evolution.  We look forward to incorporating the knowledge and brand building prowess of Camuto Group to create a global brand and a powerful, multi-branded ecommerce business.”

 

The partnership marks the first digital acquisition for Camuto Group and underscores the company’s commitment to strategic growth through innovation and progressive partnerships.

 

About Camuto Group 

Camuto Group is an international company that designs, develops and distributes fashion footwear, accessories and apparel. The company was founded by fashion legend Vince Camuto. Renowned for its ability to develop lifestyle brands on a global scale, Camuto Group builds on the success of the Vince Camuto® brand—extending to collections that include Louise et Cie®, Two By Vince Camuto®, Vince Camuto™ Men’s, Imagine Vince Camuto® and 1. STATE®. Camuto Group also holds the footwear licenses for Jessica Simpson®, BCBGeneration®, BCBGMAXAZRIA®, and both the footwear and handbag licenses for Lucky Brand® and ED Ellen DeGeneres™. Camuto Group acquired Bernard Chaus Inc. to expand Camuto Group’s platform and develop apparel opportunities for partners. Most recently, Camuto Group entered into a partnership with Mercedes Castillo to launch an advanced contemporary lifestyle collection. Camuto Group and its partners operate 120 retail locations globally and products are sold in more than 5,400 doors worldwide.

 

About Nordstrom

Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion specialty retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 329 stores in 39 states, including 121 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 200 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; and one clearance store. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com and HauteLook. The company also owns Trunk Club, a personalized clothing service serving customers online at TrunkClub.com and its five clubhouses. Nordstrom, Inc.’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

About Sole Society

Sole Society is a lifestyle brand of women’s shoes, bags and accessories dedicated to thoughtful and easy style for every day. Launched in 2011, Sole Society’s mission is to teach women how to start their look from the shoes up. Sole Society is committed to providing quality on-trend shoes, bags and accessories at surprisingly affordable prices. Sole Society is available at www.solesociety.com and www.nordstrom.com as well as select Nordstrom stores nationwide.  The product can also be purchased on QVC, www.qvc.com and select boutiques around the country.

Book Signing at Sobe Restaurant and Lounge

Ironically, August is National Romance Month and contemporary romance novelist, Keesha D. Fox, is aiming her cupid’s bow in the greater Washington Metropolitan area. On Thursday, August 18, Ms. Fox will hold a book signing event for her latest novel, Unthinkable, located at Sobe Restaurant and Lounge (10621 Greenbelt RD, Suite 201) in Lanham, MD from 4 PM – 8 PM.

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The signing will consist of conversations surrounding love, relationships and its boundaries. Those in attendance will be treated or teased by the cocktail of the night, Cointreau Teese – known as the seductive mistress. Guests will be served complimentary passed hors d’oeuvres and delectable desserts throughout the evening.

When asked about love, romance and Unthinkable, Ms. Fox states, “Love is a feeling that grows over time. Love can be lost if not watered by romance, honesty and communication. However, the act of being romantic has to consist in one’s day-to-day relationship. Something as small as opening a car door or leaving a note can maintain a spark that’ll nourish a love affair for a span of over 20 years. I should know, I’ve been with my husband since I was 16 years old. Writing the Unthinkable series is a new affair, one with myself and my unapologetic and sometimes crazy thoughts.”

Unthinkable explores the life of Keena Robinson after her world is threatened by her overzealous co-worker and her loveless marriage begins to fall apart. To help distract Keena from the tragedies happening on the home front, her two best friends, Lisa and Jasmine, planned a two-week vacation to Sin City. Keena caught the eye of her celebrity crush, Chase Parker, on more than one occasion. What happens in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas, at least not this love affair.

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To attend the signing, please RSVP at RSVP@CLHCosmo.com. To alert your friends you’re attending, please use the hashtag: #UnthinkableByKDF

ABOUT KEESHA D. FOX: Keesha D. Fox is an author and owner of J.A.K.A.B. Publications. Fox’s verse collections – Life and Love From My Eyes and Me:Naked – explains the emotions and mental growth a young women experiences when searching for true love. A few years later, one night’s dream ignited the salacious amorous story that would become her first contemporary romance novel trilogy. In 2015, the genesis, Unthinkable, was released. The second installment of Keena and Chase’s love affair, Unbreakable, will be unveiled in early 2017. Fox currently resides in Maryland with her husband and four children.

ABOUT SOBE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE: SoBe Restaurant and Lounge offers an atmosphere that is always sexy and sophisticated.  Whether you are having a relaxed dinner in the elegant dining room or mingling in the stylish, well-appointed lounge, SoBe will satisfy all senses and exceed your expectations.  From the aroma of fresh, flavorful food to the sound of contemporary music, SoBe promotes the mutual enjoyment of fine dining, social interaction, and making personal connections.  The food, service, and ambiance are unparalleled, making Sobe the hottest reservation in town.

Soothe On-Demand Massage and Wellness Company

Soothe, the largest and fastest-growing on-demand massage and wellness company, is launching Sept. 1, 2016 in Baltimore.
Soothe delivers a licensed, vetted, certified massage therapist to your home, office or hotel room, with as little as 60 minutes advance notice. Services include Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and Pre-Natal massage for individuals and couples, in treatment lengths of 60-90-120 minutes for a fixed fee – with no need to tip ($99-$139-$169). Their hours are 8 am – midnight daily. People can book 24-7 via the iOS or Android app, soothe.com, or via the toll-free concierge number 800.960.7668.  It’s consistently received 5 star reviews.

 

Now available in 39 cities with nearly 6000 licensed massage therapists, Soothe currently serves: Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, London, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Ft. Lauderdale, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Long Island, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Newark/Northern New Jersey, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, Salt Lake City, Scottsdale, Seattle, St. Louis, Vancouver (British Columbia), and Washington D.C.

Urban Stems Floral Design Workshop with Baltimore

UrbanStems is an on-demand flower delivery service sending happiness in DC, NY, and now Baltimore! We deliver beautiful, custom designed bouquets starting at $35 via bike couriers within two hours. We’re expanding quickly and will be delivering in Philly soon, too.
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At UrbanStems, we firmly believe that you can’t buy happiness, but you can send flowers, and that’s pretty much the same thing! We created UrbanStems to make it easy, affordable and fun to make someone’s day (or your own) with stunning bouquets and gifts. We’re in the business of inspiring delight in our team, our customers, and our community, and every decision we make stems from our ultimate goal: to make the world a happier place.
 SOCIAL HANDLES/HASHTAGS/Local partner list
UrbanStems: @sendurbanstems (Twitter and Instagram), #SendHappyBmore
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Photographer, Isaiah Winters: @isaiahrw (Twitter and Instagram)
Location, Ceremony Coffee, 520 Park Ave: @ceremonycoffee (Twitter and Instagram)
Hashtags: #SendHappyBmore