New York, NY (January 2012) - Most fashion lovers will never have the opportunity to step inside the personal ateliers of the world’s premier designers, let alone lunch with Donna Karan, sip tea with Nadja Swarovski, and cocktails with Zac Posen.

But this February during New York City’s Fall 2012 Fashion Week, there’s a unique chance: As part of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ mission to give their guests access to exclusive opportunities not otherwise available, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel presents ‘Inside Haute,’ an extraordinary three-day fashion experience curated by fashion insider Kathleen Beckett who has covered the world of fashion for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and Elle.

Throughout a series of lunches, cocktails, dinners and fashion shows Kathleen uses her private connections to take guests on an unprecedented tour of the inside world of New York City fashion. Traditionally available to only celebrities and those-in-the know, twenty lucky Carlyle guests will see, touch and feel the world’s newest collections, hear the stories of preeminent designers, and discuss design inspirations with the key individuals shaping the fashion industry today.

Available February 15 - 18, 2012, The ‘Inside Haute’ Package includes:

• Cocktails with Zac Posen at his design studio

• Lunch with Donna Karan at the Stephan Weiss Studio at Urban Zen

• Tea with Nadja Swarovski at the Swarovski private offices

• Champagne with Sophie Theallet at her atelier

• Lunch in the Member’s Dining Room and a private behind-the-scenes visit to the Antonio Ratti Textile Center at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Welcome cocktails & dinner with Alan Flusser and Kokin at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

• Individual chauffeured car service $6,000 per person for the three-day experience, including access to all events, breakfast daily, all meals and individual chauffeured car service.

For ‘Inside Haute’ guests who wish to arrive a few days earlier, special arrangements can be made to attend the Ralph Rucci show Sunday evening, February 12, 2012. In conjunction with ‘Inside Haute’, rooms are available starting from $795 per night, plus taxes and suites starting from $1,900 per night, plus taxes. Subject to availability. Events subject to change.

For more information and to reserve, contact Jamie Beck at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel at 212.570.7127.

NEW YORK - Still searching for this year’s hottest toys? This holiday season, let The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel do the shopping for you. From November 25 – December 23, 2011 The Carlyle is offering a special Santa’s Shopper package that will bring toys and cheer to all with the Let's Rock Elmo and Leapfrog LeapPad – both sold out nationwide.

Participating guests will receive the exclusive toy of their choice in their guestroom upon arrival, without ever having to set foot inside a toy store. Knowing the children’s gifts are safely in their possession, guests can kick back, relax and enjoy two complimentary cocktails in the hotel’s beloved Bemelmans Bar, as well as breakfast for two at The Carlyle Restaurant the following morning. Complimentary gift wrapping is available.

Additionally, guests can opt to have the gifts shipped to their personal residence, ensuring their holiday in New York is joyful and stress-free from beginning to end.

Located on Manhattan’s legendary Upper East Side, The Carlyle is the ideal place to spend your New York holiday, offering prime access to 5th Avenue, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, and Christmas spectaculars.

The Santa’s Shopper Package includes:

· Overnight Accommodations

· Choice of Let’s Rock Elmo OR Leapfrog LeapPad

· Two Cocktails in Bemelmans Bar

· Breakfast for Two in The Carlyle Restaurant

· Complimentary gift wrapping

· Shipping of Toys, additional fee applies

Visit thecarlyle.com to review this exclusive special offer for the holiday season.

Dita Von Teese, Cointreau® Brand Ambassador and International Queen of Burlesque, was in New York City last night for the official U.S. launch of “My Cointreau® Travel Essentials” - her latest limited-edition travel accessory. The stunning beauty, dressed in a black Herve L Leroux floor-length gown hosted a cocktail soiree at Forty Four at Royalton to introduce her vintage-inspired travel bar.

Presented in a chic, retro hatbox, the luxury coffret opens up to reveal a beautifully-refined mini bar that conveniently contains all the items needed to create original cocktails while jet setting around the globe.

Doning Christian Louboutin heels, elegant vintage earrings and a glamorous, oversized Dior ring, Von Teese sipped her signature cocktail, the Cointreau® MargaDita, posed for photos and chatted with guests, including Mr. Showbiz himself, Murray Hill, and 92-year-old style maven Ilona Smithkin, whom she was overheard exchanging style advice with.

Von Teese gushed to friends about her stay in New York City, beaming as she talked about acclaimed theater production “Sleep No More,” and sharing that she’d love to be cast as the nurse in an upcoming performance.

The star had such a great time at the party that she was one of the last to leave, jetting off to a late dinner with friends at the Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar.

Sephora announces the opening of its newest store at 21-27 Ninth Avenue in New York City’s famed Meatpacking District on Friday, September 16th. Sephora has leveraged the Meatpacking District’s legacy as an epicenter of art and creativity to establish one of the most modern and transformative beauty shopping experiences anywhere in the world, incorporating innovative design, state-of-the-art services and exclusive brands for its 16th Manhattan location.

“Our new Meatpacking District store represents the pinnacle of Sephora store design. When developing the plan, we made a conscious decision to intertwine art, music and technology as a way to celebrate the area’s distinct artistic heritage and ‘urban cool’ environment,” said Paul Loux, Vice President of Design at Sephora. “We’ve worked closely with the Meatpacking District Improvement Association to achieve our goals and look forward to continuing our positive relationship with the community.”

Among the many unique features Sephora has incorporated into its Meatpacking District location are:

A Unique Footprint

Located on the corner of W.13th Street and Ninth Avenue, Sephora occupies a building that typifies the area’s iconic architecture, with an interior that features sleek, modern design. Updated fixtures and an open, flowing layout allow for easy navigation of key product areas, including skincare, nail, fragrance and color, as well as the Sephora Collection 2.0 display which features a vibrant wall of color, a unique fixture dedicated solely to brushes and complexion stations to simplify finding the perfect foundation.

21st Century Shopping Services

The Meatpacking District location will be the first Sephora in the nation to feature a completely Mobile Checkout experience for faster and easier purchasing. In addition, in-store iPads will allow clients to quickly access product information, ratings and reviews and QR codes for any item in the store.

A Destination for Beauty Education

Sephora’s Meatpacking District store features the Beauty Art Studio, the destination for mastering any new beauty look. Each station features ultra-modern glass, chrome and black fixtures with LED screens and enhanced lighting for a luxurious experience. Select one of the complimentary Express Services, or a Customized Makeup Application, where the session is tailored to your personal beauty needs and the cost is redeemable in product. Services to choose from include: Blush & Bronze, Flawless Foundation, Treat & Conceal, Beautiful Skin, Smoky Eye and Faux Lash Express Services and Specialized Services such as Prom, Bridal and Evening.

Exclusive Access to Global Beauty

Sephora scours the world looking for the items global beauties can’t live without. For the Meatpacking District location only, they’ve hand-selected the most buzzed about and coveted brands and products, including 21 Drops, Ellis Faas, Giorgio Armani and Koh Gen Do cosmetics, Sponge Avocado Oil (Greece), Sentara Crème du tout temps (France), Tatcha Blotting Papers (Japan), Absolution Eye Cream (France), Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm (Hungary), Belmacz Gold Leaf Lip Balm (UK), Phillip Martins Maple Wash and Rinse (Italy), Paul Yacomine Intensive Repair Kit (UK).

Sephora Carries Art Throughout the Retail Experience

Inside Sephora Meatpacking you will discover “Flamenco Tornado,” a custom work by New York based installation artist and sculptor, E.V. Day. The large scale piece, the first commissioned in a series by Sephora, explores overt female power, sexuality, passion and energy. Using the artist’s signature suspension techniques, the piece uses an original flamenco dress donated to the artist, which is distorted to capture the raw energy of a tornado, suggesting a woman’s transformative movement and power. Going forward, Sephora will incorporate original artwork from a series of contemporary artists into a designated gallery space within the store.

September 8th - (New York) Asian designer Richard Chai took hold of the runway with his latest collection for Spring 2012. Chai creates casual clothes that pair surprising fabrics - like silks mixed with wools and twill with georgette. Pair that with architectural touches like French seams and origami folds, earning his work a reputation for minimalist, inspired touches.

This years works were as bright and colorful as they ever have been, leaving the streaks of color on the runway as models casually showed off the collections. Prints were rich in florals gaining in speed with colors of reds and vibrant blues.

Men's plaid shirts were designed in simple gentleman's chic, offering his usual casual style for men's inspired everyday wear. Skirts were long and flowing, again as were the colors of deep blue.

Images: Richard Chai/GlamMediaFWI

Although young, Ashley is one of the hottest stylists in New York City. She comes to mizu new york from the west coast where she studied under celebrity stylist Varo Lopez, personal stylist to Jordin Sparks. Ashley has toured with Jordin Sparks Varo for events such as the Superbowl to American Idol appearances to Celebrity Fight Night.

Ashley made her New York debut at Cutler Salon where she rapidly excelled; taking on some of their most high profile clients including Britney Spears and Rachel Hunter. A regular at fashion week, she has styled for designers such as J. Mendel, Betsey Johnson, Cynthia Rowley, Korto Momolu and Mandy Coon.

Ashley's expertise ranges from cutting and styling to bridal up-dos and extensions. She is also one of the few professionals in New York who has extensive expertise in "Great Length’s," "Seamless Wefts," and custom made clip-ins (as she custom designed for Britney Spears). Her work has been in publications such as Ok! magazine, Us Weekly and shows such as “Make Me a Supermodel”, “She Has the Look” and “Oprah”. Her celebrity list includes Kelly Rutherford, Ramona Singer of the Real Housewives of New York and Christine Lahti.

Become an elite member of The Art of Shaving’s “Brotherhood of Shaving”, with the semi-annual Friends & Family Shopping Event. Sign up to become a Perfect Shave Rewards Member and receive 20% off your purchase when you shop in stores or on-line Friday, July 22nd – Sunday, July 24th with the experts that developed the science behind the perfect shave.

The Art of Shaving transforms the daily and often dreaded task, of shaving from a chore into a luxurious ritual. Sign up to become a Perfect Shave Rewards Member at bit.ly/TAOSFriends and you will receive the invitation-only access to the exclusive sale starting Friday, July 22nd.

A perfectly manicured hand is one where the nails are strong and smooth, with no discoloration, jagged cuticles or other signs of abuse. But what about nails that are less than perfect? Since many health problems have an impact on the nails, it’s worth listening to what your hands have to say.

Skin cancers are a serious concern. They can develop in the nail bed, matrix, or nail folds. Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, may first be observed as a long pigmented band of black or dark brown in the nail plate, most often on the thumb or big toe. And wart-like lesions on the nail fold or in the nail bed could be squamous cell carcinomas.

So how do you protect these guardians of your fingers from the ravages of the sun? Dr. Ariel Ostad, a Manhattan Board Certified Dermatologist suggests the following:

• Moisturize daily. This is the best way to keep nails from flaking and cracking. Dr. Ostad recommends lactic acid creams in 5 -12 percent concentrations.
• Wear gloves. European and American women used to wear gloves whenever they went outside to keep their hands soft and protected. Although that may not be practical these days, cold weather dries out the nails, so wear gloves when the elements demand it. Use rubber gloves when working with cleansers, detergents or solvents.
• Leave the cuticle alone. The cuticle is a seal that protects the nail matrix, and disturbing this seal increases your risk of inflicting permanent damage. Never remove the cuticle, and don't trim it or push it back. If you have a wart near your nail, do not pick at it as it can transform into squamous cell carcinoma. See a doctor if it doesn’t go away in a few months.

Beware of Dangerous UVA Rays at the Nail Salon. Women who visit beauty salons to have their nails done could be increasing their risk of skin cancer, according to a new UK report. Doctors raised the alarm after two women developed tumors on their hands from exposure to ultra-violet lamps used to fix artificial nails. The lamps can also be bought for home use. But experts now fear the high dose of UVA rays - the most dangerous form of ultra-violet light they produce could be damaging skin cells.

“Regular users should have their hands and fingers inspected for signs of cancerous growths,” says Dr. Ostad. Most salons specialize in nail extensions which can be fixed on to a customer's own nails, then painted or decorated. But there have already been concerns that poorly trained nail technicians may be putting customers' health at risk by using cheap but potentially hazardous chemicals. Because the matrix originates under the cuticle, getting a manicure can harm it if the equipment isn't sterilized. And when a drill is inserted under the cuticle to smooth it, the matrix cells can be ground up so badly that they cannot regenerate. Nail sculpture chemicals can also drip down into the matrix, causing damage. "When the matrix cells are damaged, they may never grow properly again, and the nail will always be deformed," says Dr. Ostad.

It’s the Pits. When the normally smooth surface of the fingernail has several small dents or pits in it, that can be a signal that something is going on beneath the nail. Most often, the cause of those dents is psoriasis. The inflammatory skin condition—it shows up as red, scaly patches on the skin—can also affect the skin cells in the nails. Instead of growing out smoothly, the surface of the nail takes on a dented appearance. Once the psoriasis is treated and under control, nails will slowly return to normal. Since nails only grow about a millimeter per week, it will take a few months for the old, pitted nail to fully grow out and be replaced with a healthy one.

What Do Spoon-shaped Nails Indicate? A healthy nail has a specific shape—slightly raised in the middle, then curving down a bit at the tip. So when you see a nail with the exact opposite configuration, that should be a clue that all is not right. “Dark nails or thin, flat, spoon-shaped nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia,” says Dr. Ostad. As with many health problems, it can take months of iron deficiency before the problem shows up in the nails. And when the anemia is corrected, it will take awhile for normal-shaped nails to re-grow.

Peeling Nails? Why It’s Happening. The nail plate is made up of several layers of keratin (a protein). Ideally, those layers are sealed together to form a unified, strong nail. But when nails aren’t protected—your hands are in water a lot, or exposed to cold, dry air—those layers tend to delaminate. The result is nails that are likely to peel. Besides being an indication that you need to take better care of your nails—polish can help seal the layers and moisturizing them several times a day will keep the layers supple—peeling nails can mean a diet that’s lacking in linoleic acid. The easiest way to up your intake is to increase your use of vegetable oils.

Brittle Nails. By some estimates, about 20 percent of women suffer from a condition called “brittle nail syndrome.” While it may sound like just a fancy name for nails that break easily, the causes go deeper than that. Brittle nails are ones that can’t hold on to moisture, so the layers of the nail plate dry out and crack. Medically speaking, it’s possible for an under-active thyroid to cause both dry skin and brittle nails. Nutritionally, a diet low in iron can cause nails to become thin, brittle and easily broken (eating more green, leafy vegetables, red meat and eggs will help boost your iron intake). Biotin supplements (a B-complex vitamin) have also been shown to improve the condition of brittle nails. The main culprit of brittle nails? Excessive exposure to water. Constantly wetting and drying your hands (and nails) can make brittleness worse.

It’s Not Easy Being Yellow. A healthy nail (with healthy skin beneath its bed) has a soft, pinkish hue. When it doesn’t, that may be a reason to worry. “When all of the nails turn yellow it can be a sign of lung disease or diabetes,” says Dr. Ostad. “Yellow spots on the nails can be an indicator of fungus or psoriasis.” Since any of these conditions warrants treatment by a doctor, it’s worth seeing a dermatologist if yellow nails persist. Women who frequently wear very dark nail polish for long periods of time (especially without using a protective basecoat underneath it) may also notice a slight yellowing of their nails, but it’s no reason to panic. The nails are merely stained from the polish and will return to their normal shade if they are left unpolished for a while.