Constance White on Fashion Week

JSG was disappointed our schedule did not allow for us to connect with Constance White, eBay Style Director, over Fashion week, but she was kind enough to answer some questions over email:


Q: What were your favorite shows at Fashion Week?

A: I really enjoyed Alexander Wang, Narciso Rodriguez, Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs.

Q: What were some of the favorite trends you saw at Fashion Week?

A: Loved all the color and the interesting way fur was used. I thought the assertive, sexy woman we saw at Wang, Rodriguez and Yigal Azrouel hit the bull’s eye (Shown below, from Style.com).


Q: Do you think a regular woman could wear them?

A: Absolutely. She’ll love wearing them. They were so well done. Provocative, yes, but so accessible.


Q: How can a woman stay stylish on a budget?
A: First, she can shop on eBay. Second, she should do an inventory of her wardrobe. What’s in it that’s still stylish? And then update what she has with some key pieces. For instance, a big cuff will update a dress. A fuchsia blouse will update an old career suit.

Q: What's your best advice for smart packing?

A: Make a list. I always start with a list. It helps me edit. Next, choose one or two basic colors and stick to that plan, e.g., black and red. You’ll be able to mix and match more. Roll everything in tissue paper or plastic to cut down on ironing when you get to your destination.


Q: What's your favorite vacation destination?

A: Jamaica, but I’m dying to go to Brazil.

Thanks, Constance! And don't forget to check out eBay's auction of celebrity iPods to benefit Music Rising.

Tom Brady Thinks I'm Sexy

JSG was super-excited to be one of the select bloggers invited to last night's video conference with Tom Brady for the launch of All American Stetson. Two years ago, we went to the Coty event where Tom--in person--was introduced as the new Stetson spokesman. Back then, we asked Tom what he found sexy in a woman. Now, it has been two years, but we're pretty sure he answered something that meant us, but then again, our memory could be playing tricks.

We had the chance to ask Tom the same question last night. His response: A woman who is comfortable in her own skin. Tall, not tall, it doesn't matter. It's the way she walks, talks and carries herself. Confidence.

See, that could mean us!!!

Other answers from Tom we liked:

Where is the sexiest place on her body a woman can apply perfume:
Any place my nose is next to. I like it behind the ear. You can nuzzle her there, then if you want to whisper something, you can.

On how to pick a fragrance for your guy:

From a guys’ perspective, I can tell you that if a woman buys it for me, chances are I’m going to like it because it came from her. My advice would be to pick out a fragrance that appeals to you and most likely, your guy will like it too.

In many answers, Tom referred to how he likes to "test limits". All we can say is: Watch out, Giselle!



The new All American Stetson is in stores now.

A Peek Inside a Flirtexter's Carry On Part 2

We love the spot-on advise that Olivia and Debra give about texting. If only we'd known this a few years ago! Look for their book, Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart, and check out Flirtexting online for their blog. Olivia's recent post on the changes to our social lives BC (before cell) and now is a great read as are her tips for getting back to traditional dating.

Here's what Olivia has in her carry on, thanks for sharing!

Olivia’s Carry-On

Here’s what my carry on actually looks like. I use T. Anthony’s Classic Duffle in Blue/Burgundy. It was a Christmas present in High School. I always thought it was so chic and timeless. I even decided to forgo an actual backpack when “backpacking” in Europe in college. I packed 2 weeks worth of clothes in my duffle and made backpacking easy and breezy.

My Must-Have Beauty Items
By Terry Lip Gloss- Its moisturizing gloss with SPF.
Moisturizer- Mistral Hand Crème
Natura Bisse Moisturizer-I always put some on before landing. The plane air sucks the moisture out of your skin and prior to landing I like to bring it back to life.

I have an eclectic taste in music. Jams on my iPod:
T.I. Paper Trails, Dinah Washington, Adele, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Santinogold, Michael Jackson Dirty Diana, Stevie Wonder.

I always travel with my striped cashmere YaYa scarf. It can be a scarf or a wrap. Love its versatility. It’s key to traveling light and smart.


Magazines: I’ve never been much of a movie watcher on the plane. I use it as an excuse to catch up on my magazines. I always stock up prior to boarding on: Bazaar, Teen Vogue (best fashion layouts), The New Yorker, Travel (it's an excuse to daydream about more places you want to explore), Men’s Health (bc I always wanna know what the boys are thinking).

Always have my Dell Laptop with me to write. Traveling is so inspiring to a writer. It’s also a great escape excuse to turn off emails/phones and clear our minds a bit. I can get some great writing done in the air.

Want to know what's in co-author's Deb's carry on?

Makeup Tips for Photos

One of the constant struggles JSG's Annie has is how to get her makeup right for photos. Specifically, how to avoid having a super-shiny, grease slick of a forehead (see below, left, from our recent cruise). It seems like no matter how much powder I use, I still look ultra-shiny in photos.



I was only too happy to receive a Precriptives Photochrome Light Adjusting Compact foundation to test out. According to the packaging, the foundation: Makes skin look natural in any light, all day long. Innovative light-reflecting particles diffuse glare, while softening the look of lines and wrinkles, and minimizing the appearance of pores. The lightweight, long-wearing cream-to-powder foundation provides a seamless finish that never looks heavy--just perfectly flawless and ready for pictures. The patented ergonomic sponge contours the face for precise application.



I put Prescriptives Photocrome to the test on the first day of New York Fashion Week, when my schedule was jammed from 10 am til midnight. Here I am backstage at the tents around 1 pm:



and later that evening at the Target Alexander McQueen party:

My skin has a nice matte finish and the product definitely lived up to its promises of working in any light, being long wearing and working for photos (If I do say so, myself!). I did use a fair amount of moisturizer along with the new Prescriptives Flawless Face Primer before using the foundation. My skin is dry and I'm not used to wearing heavier foundation, so I wanted the extra boost before applying. And it seems as if nothing will ever stop the glare entirely on my forehead. Perhaps I should follow the lead of my friend, Bianca, and get bangs.

What I didn't like about Photocrome: It has a slight chemical odor and the sponge--patented or not, seemed to work like a basic makeup sponge. If it were up to me, I would cutback on the plastic packaging and sell the foundation alone.

Those two factors aside, I'll definitely be using Photochrome again next time I know I'll be in pictures.

Yoga Cures for Sore Feet and More

We pay the price for wearing great looking shoes, late nights out, and even the grind of a tough commute. While the obvious solution might be kicking back on the couch with your feet up or pouring yourself a (second) glass of wine, we have a healthier alternative:

Kathryn Budig, popular yogi at YogaWorks studios in Santa Monica, gave us simple yoga solutions for common JSG problems.

Issue #1: Are your feet sore from those four-inch Louboutins?

“Alleviate the pain of wearing high heels by ascending and descending to chair pose, balancing on the balls of the feet with the arches and heels lifting,” suggests Kathryn. “The pose will help you conquer the discomfort of this season’s soaring heel heights.”

How To Solve:
• Place the feet together and lift both arms parallel to the ground, palms facing down
• Find one point to gaze at and lift up onto the balls of the feet
• Continue to reach the heels away from the ground, creating lift in the arches
• Keep the gaze on one point, heels lifted, and begin to bend the knees
• Keep the belly gently pulling to the spine as the body descends until the bottom lands lightly on the heels
• Take five breaths without placing the heels on the ground and make a slow return back to standing
• Place heels back down

Issue #2: Tired from your taxing commute? (JSG think this would work during a long flight too!)

“Stay calm and peaceful no matter what the roads are like with alternating nostril breath work,” Kathryn recommends. “Concentrating on breathing keeps you from fidgeting and helps you relax.”

How to Solve:
• Begin with a calm pattern of breath in and out through the nose, keeping the mouth closed and relaxed
• Exhale the air out and then on an even count, inhale to the count of eight
• Once you reach eight, retain the breath for the count of eight and then exhale back with slow control through the nose in eight counts
• Repeat this 3-5 times or until the nerves are calmed

Issue #3: Do you need to detox from last night’s (or week’s) revelries?

“Perk up with a heat-inducing chair pose twist, taking the opposite elbow to the bent knee,” says Kathryn. “The pose gets the blood flowing to help flush out built-up toxins.”

How to Solve:
• Begin with the feet together
• Bend the knees, keeping the weight in your heels
• Take your hands into prayer at the heart and revolve the chest so that the left elbow lands onto the right thigh just above the knee
• Press the prayer hands together until the right elbow faces the ceiling
• Lean back to revolve the chest
• Take 5-8 breaths and switch sides

YogaWorks also has studios in LA, NYC, Orange County and San Francisco. They offer group and private classes, workshops and retreats.

Kohler Waters Spa Review

Today, JSG brings you a review of the Kohler Waters Spa, by guest blogger, Catherine Holecko:

The outskirts of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is about the last place I expected to find myself enjoying a lovely spa treatment. But that was before I knew about, and visited, the Kohler Waters Spa in Kohler, Wisconsin (about an hour’s drive north of Milwaukee, or two hours from Chicago).

The existence of the spa makes a lot more sense when you connect it to the Kohler plumbing empire—a maker of high-end faucets and fixtures. And the spa provides half a dozen or so ways to have a soothing soak: hot tubs and whirlpools in the men’s and women’s locker area, a co-ed hot tub/fireplace lounge, and a waterfall-fed relaxation pool. Plus hydrotherapy features prominently in the treatments, many of which include time in a Vichy shower or soaking tub.

My GF Rachel and I visited recently for a girls’ reunion and beat-the-blahs weekend. I chose the 75-minute “Head to Toe” exfoliating treatment in an attempt to shed a few layers of winter skin. Plus I thought it offered a good sampling of the spa’s many services—scalp massage, exfoliating body mask, mini-facial, etc. (I was fascinated by, but couldn’t quite convince myself to try, the Highland Fling—a “mist-ical,” Scottish-inspired treatment that includes a “fling of warm water buckets to drench the body.”) I left the treatment room feeling utterly relaxed and sloughed clean; my skin still felt soft two days later when one of my friends—not the one who also visited the spa—said “your face is glowing!”

Along with its hot tubs and lounges, the spa has standard amenities like comfy robes, a fitness center, and a tasty lunch menu. The building is adjacent to the Kohler Design Center (totally worth a visit BTW) and neighbors the American Club hotel. The spa itself had a maze-like feeling that Rachel and I could never quite shake. The women’s locker rooms had only two toilets (so there was often someone waiting for her turn) and the locker areas were tiny, making it awkward to change in and out of the robes. We got lost a few times looking for our lunch table or the rooftop hot tub lounge—but the gracious staff was always available to help us out.

If you’re not going to be traveling to Wisconsin anytime soon, check out Kohler Waters locations in Chicago and St. Andrews, Scotland.

You can read more about my usually much less glamorous life at my personal blog, Mayberry Mom, and get info and advice at my family fitness site, About Family Fitness.

Interested in guest blogging about your girls' getaway for JSG? Contact us at jetsetgirls@gmail.com.

Trench Coats: 5 for Spring Under $150

Seems like just about every magazine we crack open these days is trumpeting the trench coat as THE piece of the season. And for good reason: At this time of year, the weather is so unpredictable, you'll want a trench for your trips to L.A., Austin or Florida in case it's unexpectedly cold, and to take along to New York or Chicago, in case it's unexpectedly warm. While we still firmly believe in the timelessness and inherit value of a classic Burberry, we understand that now may not be the time you want to invest in one. On that note, here are five trenches under $150 to take you through til summer.

A classic trench style from Michael Kors will only set you back $117:




A sunny yellow Via Spiga trench will make you happy on even the grayest days and is only $135.



This Mossimo trench at Target will cost you less than a night out with the girls ($31.99):




For night's on the town, we heart this Vera Wang satin trench, especially because it's in our favorite color and on sale for $59 at Kohl's.




This cropped Gap trench is ultra-modern and only $34.99.