Le Lipstique

Le Lipstique in Amandelle is creamy and stays on for hours, even after eating and drinking.

One winter’s evening when I was in college — not all that long ago — I had a date with the guy all the girls wanted to go out with. My super-stylish roommate helped me get ready for this big night out, picking out my clothes, putting on my makeup and generally making sure I didn't embarrass myself from the get-go.

After giving the sign off on my outfit, my way-more-sophisticated roommate pulled out her big bag of fancy — Chanel, Lancôme, Bobbi Brown, other brands I had never even heard of — and went to work on my face. Until this point, my makeup bag was filled with whatever I had managed to snatch from my mother’s makeup box.

And so began my affair with Lancôme’s Le Lipstique lip pencil in Amandelle. The toffee brown shade has hints of pink and matches whatever lipstick or gloss I am into at the moment. But more than that, and the real reason for my dedication to this creamy pencil, is its staying power. Eating and drinking do nothing to diminish its color, and although my lipstick has been known to end up on my babies' faces (hello, grandma!), it takes a lot more than a peck to rub this pencil off.

At $24.50, Lancôme’s pencil is on the pricier side, but one can last me well over a year. If I time my purchase right, and include a sharpener, I can usually even get a free gift with my purchase.

Over the years, I have tried other lip pencils, but was never impressed enough to stay faithful longer than the few months before it ran out. Granted, there is a small place in my clutch for MAC’s Cremestick Liner ($14.50) — it stays on for hours — but the pencil is finished after too few applications for my taste.

Now that I live in London, getting hold of this exact shade is not as simple as running to the nearest mall. The brand's product lines here are slightly different, and I am forced to plan ahead, picking it up on trips home, or asking friends and family to schlep it over when they visit.

So, although my relationship with that guy didn’t go any further than that one evening, I developed another long-term relationship that isn’t going anywhere instead.

What's your favorite lip pencil?

Rachel Elbaum is a London-based writer who doesn't step out without something on her lips.

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Transgender model Andrej Pejic, who responds to both "he" and "she," poses pretty in New York on Jan. 27.

Gender-bending model Andrej Pejic, 20, captured the fashion runway, and now he’s expanding his territory to the fragrance department.

The feminine-looking 6-foot-1 fashion star, who posed for Marc Jacobs in 2011, has signed on to be the face of designer Jean Paul Gaultier’s new men’s fragrance, according to Women’s Wear Daily. The scent, called Kokorico (French onomatopoeia for a rooster’s cry, a more European “cock-a-doodle-doo”), launched last summer and originally featured an ad campaign with a Spanish hunk named Jon Kortajarena. (Was it not risqué enough? An androgynous model can fix that.)

It features notes of fig leaves, raw cocoa and cedar, which sounds more like a vegan diet than it does a fragrance, but it was supposedly designed “as a powerful and explosive aphrodisiac.” Nothing spells explosive quite like fig leaves.

Pierre Verdy / AFP-Getty Images file

Here comes the bride: Andrej Pejic wears a theatrical wedding dress at the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring-Summer 2011 Haute Couture Collection Show on Jan. 26, 2011.

Gaultier has taken strongly to Pejic, even going so far as to use him as an inspiration for his 2011 men’s and women’s fashion collection shows, in which Pejic walked the runway. For the women’s show, the model received the esteemed honor of getting to don a dramatic couture bridal gown (albeit, with a Mohawk headpiece). It’s quite a crowning achievement for the Bosnian native, who started out in a Serbian refugee camp before making his way to Australia and, ultimately, a McDonald’s, where he was spotted by a talent scout.

Model Andrej Pejic presents a subtle creation by French designer Jean Paul Gaultier as part of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2012 fashion show in Paris on January 25.

Now Pejic is in high demand in fashion circles, with his current agent telling the Associated Press that the model's androgynous look has spurred a slew of copycats. There have been other (though few) transgender fashion models in recent history, including Lea T, but does the recent popularity of Pejic mean we might see more of a mix of genders in fashion? It’s too early to tell, but in the meantime, Pejic is having fun keeping the masses guessing.

“I like having a level of mystery,” Pejic told New York magazine in 2011, who refers to his androgyny as “the situation.”  

“I know people want me to sort of defend myself, to sit here and be like, ‘I’m a boy, but I wear makeup sometimes.’ But, you know, to me, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t really have that sort of strong gender identity — I identify as what I am. The fact that people are using it for creative or marketing purposes, it’s just kind of like having a skill and using it to earn money.”

Folks are certainly using for marketing purposes — it’s something you’ll be able to smell in coming months.

Rina Raphael is a TODAY.com editor who is still holding out for a "30 Rock" Liz Lemon-inspired fragrance.

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What smells do you associate with major league baseball? Off the top of my head I come up with Budweiser, hot dogs and pine tar, but whoever concocted the New York Yankees men's scent launching soon in New York Macy's stores thought of bergamot, coriander, sage, geranium, patchouli, sandalwood, and suede. Just the way a guy wants to smell when he's heckling A-Rod from the cheap seats.

Styleite.com

The New York Yankees fragrance comes in two varieties: one for men, one for women. Can you guess which is which?

The new Yankee concoction was described in WWD as a "sporty, woody eau de toilette," according to Styleite, and comes in the team's signature navy color. There's a New York Yankees for Her, too, described as an "alluring, flirty, playful" blend that includes guava, plum, apricot, strawberry, sandalwood, vanilla and musk. Ladies, dab a little of that on your throat before you dash off to a glamorous evening in the Bronx.

Here's a thought: Maybe the umpires ought to splash on a dab of the men's scent at the start of a long nine innings. Imagine how much more pleasant a grueling duel with a relief pitcher might be if you're inhaling a bracing fragrance while swinging at the ball.

Not to mention how much nicer the comments from the stands might be. "Hey, ump: You're blind, but the way you smell makes me feel like I'm frolicking barefoot in a field of wildflowers!"

The New York Yankees fragrances will come to Macy's in late April and are expected to later roll out worldwide.

Rick Schindler is a Mets fan who is excited by the smell of pizza.

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InStyle.com

By InStyle.com

Sultry songstress Adele made a signature statement with dramatic sweeps of graphic liner. Look too complicated? Not so! Check out our easy-to-follow instructions complete with ideas for variations on the look. The namesake herself tends to go heavier while Diane Kruger exemplifies a softer, more subtle cat's eye.

InStyle.com

Basic tips:

• Take a liquid liner and draw a line from the inner corner halfway along the top of your lashline.
• Then, draw from the outside corner going inward. Meeting in the middle will result in a clean line like Jennifer Hudson's.
• Next, use a pointed cotton swab to drag and taper the liner to a point just past the corner of your eye.

Basic products:

InStyle.com

• A felt tip liquid liner with a soft pen-like brush is much more user-friendly than the classic liquid brush. We like Bobbi Brown's Inkliner ($24; bobbibrowncosmetics.com).
• Use the Precision Tip Q-tips ($4; walgreens.com) to create a dramatic cat’s eye. It’s important to drag the color upwards while it’s still wet so act quickly.

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InStyle.com

Problem: I'm afraid of messing up the line

Solution: We love liners with a felt tip applicator like this one from Lancome ($30; lancome-usa.com). It lets you line, shape and define without tugging or skipping. Remember to pull gently on your lid for the smoothest application.

InStyle.com

Problem: I have sensitive eyes

Solution: Contact lens wearers or people with fair skin like Emma Stone often have sensitivities. Before you apply any makeup, flush out your eyes with a saline solution to hydrate your pupils. We like the original Visine ($8; drugstore.com). Then pat them down with a tissue and wait a few minutes. This should eliminate dryness and irritation for the rest of the night.

InStyle.com

Problem: I think it's too dramatic for me

Solution: If deep black is too harsh, try smudgy grey like the Dolce & Gabbana Crayon Intense in Agave ($29; saksfifthavenue.com). Instead of a really graphic, liquid line, Ginnifer Goodwin is wearing a soft smoky shadow that still has the same effect.

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London Fashion Week was quite the spectator sport, with everyone from Issa (a Duchess Kate favorite) to Alexander McQueen showcasing dramatic ensembles and wild, fun pops of color. Take a look at some of our recent runway favorites:

Ian Gavan / Getty Images

A model spreads her wings during the Fyodor Golan show at London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter on Feb. 17.

Take us to your leader: A green-covered model looks quite the comic-book villain at the the Fyodor Golan show on Feb. 17.

Ian Gavan / Getty Images

Severe weather in Europe was even demonstrated in the Burberry Prorsum show on Feb. 20.

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A dramatic moment is captured at the McQ Alexander McQueen London 2012 show on Feb. 20.

Samir Hussein / Getty Images

A hair-raising 'do from the Louise Gray show on Feb.19.

Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

A favorite of Duchess Kate, Issa opted for villager-chic head scarves during its London Fashion Week show on Feb. 18.

Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

Alien chic? A bold makeup look from the Pam Hogg 2012 Autumn/Winter collection show on Feb. 19.

Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

Designer Pam Hogg walks down the catwalk with her models after the presentation of the Pam Hogg 2012 Autumn/Winter collection during London Fashion Week on Feb. 19.

Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

Wild, Nicki Minaj-inspired color on display at the Meadham Kirchhoff fashion show on Feb. 21.

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Designer Inbar Spector sent her models down the runway in exotic, colorful face masks on Feb. 20

 Rina Raphael is a TODAY.com editor whose most avant-garde outfit is a bright blue Snuggie.

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AP

This dress is part of "Hollywood Legends" auction scheduled to run on March 31 through April 1st at the Julien's Auctions gallery in Beverly Hills.

In the wake of Whitney Houston's untimely death, fans are remembering her talents through her music and her role in "The Bodyguard."

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For those fans who already own her entire discography, they'll soon be able to bid on pieces from Houston's most memorable movie role, when the black velvet dress and earrings she wore in the 1992 flick with Kevin Costner hit the auction block in March.

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"It's a celebration of her life," celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien told the Associated Press on Sunday. "If you hide these things in fear that you're going to offend someone...her life is to be celebrated. These items are historic now that she passed. They become a part of history. They should be in museums. She's lived a life and had a career that nobody else has ever had."

Julien adds that the late singer's items will be among other celebrity memorabilia like silent film star Charlie Chaplin's cane and Clark Gable's jacket from Gone With the Wind.

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Houston, who passed away on Feb. 11, was laid to rest in a New Jersey cemetery on Sunday, the day after her 3.5-hour long, celebrity-packed funeral took place in Newark, NJ.

Although she's been gone for just a little over a week, she's already back to topping the charts. Her classic "I Will Always Love You" made its return to the Billboard Top 10 this week at number 7.

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A model wears a jewelled head-piece by Lara Jensen as she walks on the catwalk during the Inbar Spector presentation at London Fashion Week in London on Feb. 20.

Are these jeweled headpieces wonderfully creative or totally Gaga?

Israeli designer Inbar Spector — known for her festive, avante-garde creations — sent her models down the London Fashion Week runway on Monday in exotic, colorful face masks by Lara Jensen. The glittering, gothic masquerade featured billowy, romantic tulle bottoms and intricate, ruffled tops, which were made all the more dramatic by the sparkly facial accessories.

Are you a fan of this couture-esque jewelry gas mask? Or is it ... a bit much?

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Jewelled head-pieces designed by Lara Jensen are prepared ahead of the Inbar Spector presentation. London Fashion Week runs twice a year and is one of the four main global fashion shows that set the trends for coming seasons.

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A close-up shot of the Lara Jensen headpiece.

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Pretty in soft pink at the Inbal Spector presentation in London.

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Models show off whimsical creations at the Inbal Spector show.

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Israeli-born designer Inbar Spector walks with a model on the runway following her presentation.

Rina Raphael is a TODAY.com editor whose most avante-garde outfit is a bright blue Snuggie.

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Although I never thought it would happen, I can officially cross “Walk the runway at New York Fashion Week” off my bucket list.

Mary Ann Zoellner

TODAY producer Alicia Ybarbo lets her personality out on the runway.

At 4-foot-11, I certainly don’t fit the mold of a traditional model, but for the first time, women like me got to show their stuff at “Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show” at Lincoln Center on Thursday. Hosted by Iman, it was the brainchild of several prominent moms, female bloggers and businesswomen.

Women of all shapes and sizes were dressed in looks that were both casual and dressy, affordable and designer. I wore items from David Meister, Alexis Bittar, Gap and Macy’s. While I’m not a label lover, I do like style – texture and clothes that make me feel good – and this show was able to highlight pieces that are both available in stores right now and fit real women.

Mary Ann Zoellner

Backstage at "Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show."

When it came to walking the runway, we moms had no worries. OK, maybe we were a little nervous in the beginning, but in the end we all let our personalities out on the runway, showing smiles and high fives and feeling empowered and strong – which is what being a fashionable mom is all about.

Mary Ann Zoellner

(Left to right) Isabel Kallman of AlphaMoms.com, Vera Sweeney of GettingGorgeousEvents.com,
Alicia Ybarbo of TODAY, and Jennifer James of MomBloggersClub.com.

Carol Cain, the founder and editor of NYCityMama.com, joked behind the scenes that she was practicing her catwalk at home to LMAFO’s “I'm Sexy and I Know It,” and practically dislocated her hip while trying to strike a pose. But from the looks of her on the runway, practice made perfect!

But let’s get to the other highlight of Fashion Week: the hair and makeup! Being able to sit in a chair and have someone conceal the bags under my eyes – a result of working the 2 p.m.-to-midnight shift at work and juggling a week without a baby sitter – I became alive again. The fact is, most of us moms put more focus on our children and families then we do on ourselves.

Jennifer James

Colleague Mary Ann Zoellner helps Alicia get runway-ready.

According to Babycenter.com, 92 percent of the clothing purchases women make before having children are based on design. But after they become moms, their criteria change to comfort and cost efficiency. The Strut Moms show loudly demonstrated that design, comfort and (in some cases) cost efficiency go hand in hand.

So join me in getting rid of those ratty ol' mommy jeans. And practice your strut to the recycle bin while doing it!

Alicia Ybarbo is a TODAY producer and a mom.

TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas

Your parents always warned you to watch your portion sizes, but there's a new set of gobble-able goodies out there. TODAY style editor and Bobbie.com's Bobbie Thomas shares unusual ways to indulge without packing on pounds.

Better peanut butter
For many women, there's no force on Earth greater than peanut butter! Whether on a sandwich or by the spoonful, the tempting treat has countless health benefits, but it can also have unhealthy sugars and fat, clocking in at around 190 calories per two tablespoon serving. Thankfully, genius minds in Georgia developed PB2, a powdered peanut butter with just 45 calories per two tablespoons and 85 percent less fat than the original. Simply mix with water for a creamy concoction that's great on apples, bananas and drizzled on low-fat yogurt – sure to satisfy the peanut butter monster inside you ($15.96/4 pack; bellplantation.com)

Arctic Mint

Arctic Zero is a tasty, low-calorie treat that's only 37 calories per serving.

Pack a pint
If you've ever had the desire to eat an entire pint of ice cream, you'll flip for Arctic Zero, a low-calorie treat that's only 37 calories per serving (148 calories if you eat the entire container). Even more, the dessert is fat-free, friendly for those with lactose-intolerance and is filled with fiber and protein.  Available in seven fun flavors, the Vanilla Maple and Chocolate Peanut Butter are staples around my office, often making appearances at lunchtime ($5.99 per pint; myarcticzero.com)

Savory sucking candies
Mints are an after dinner favorite for curbing cravings, but now you can find quirky versions of the candy to satisfy almost any culinary desire. PerpetualKid.com offers up ranch dressing-flavored mints that can be consumed with a salad or buffalo wings, saving countless grams of fat and calories.  There are also onion ring mints, nacho cheese mints, corndog mints and cherry pie mints – perfect to put in your purse or to gift to those with an adventurous palette ($1.75-$2.99; perpetualkid.com).

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Bobbie's Buzz: Flattering workout wear

New look? Seal, sporting a brand new neon yellow manicure, lands in Sydney on Feb. 15.

By Justin Fenner, Styleite

What’s a man to do when he’s in the process of legally dividing himself of his wife of seven years and he wants to represent the split symbolically? Get his nails done, of course!

Singer Seal, who’s in the process of divorcing his supermodel wife Heidi Klum, was walking out of an airport in Australia on Wednesday, and paparazzi cameras noticed that he wasn’t wearing his wedding ring — despite the fact that he said on "Ellen" a few weeks ago that just because you get a separation “doesn’t necessarily mean you take off your ring and you’re no longer connected to that person.”

So how is he staying connected to Heidi? Apparently by means of a pretty awesome-looking yellow manicure. We know the picture you see above isn’t the highest quality shot, but you can still tell that whoever painted Seal's nails knew what they were doing. We’re not sure if he painted his nails because it’s a cool look or if he wanted to distract people from the fact that he’s no longer wearing his wedding ring. Either way, he’s definitely got people talking — and wondering what color he’ll go for after this shade of sunshine starts to chip.

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Reuters

A model displays a sparkly creation designed by The Blonds at New York Fashion Week on Feb. 15.

"Helmet hair" took on a whole new meaning at The Blonds Fall 2012 fashion show during New York Fashion Week Wednesday night.

The bold, fun design duo behind the line that celebrities love rolled out sexy models – clad in the brand's signature corsets – with Barbie-esque ponytail motorcycle helmets. (We're pretty sure they are not recommended for actual riding use.)

This time around, the body-hugging bodices were bursting with spiky crystals and draping chains whose inspiration came from a motorcycle adventure the two committed designers, Phillipe and David Blond, took during the past year. "It was a wild night out and I was wearing this corset, of course" said Phillipe. "And [David] was like, 'Let's go out on my dad's bike.' " So, it's partly about their relationship, which extends beyond the design room. Love, guys!

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Designers David and Phillipe Blond at the end of the The Blonds Fall 2012 collection show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 15.

As for the menswear, it was somewhat based on their appreciation for "American Idol" star Adam Lambert, who was one of their first male clients and attended last night's show. "I think more men are looking for things that are different, they're looking for more options,"  said David. "Women have all the options, and men don't have any." (Cue the violins?)

"There's something happening with fashion for men right now," added Phillipe, noting that the boys are suddenly becoming "so popular" with the introduction of celebrity male models and designer male accessories. "There's a huge movement now – it's growth, and it's wonderful and it feels amazing."

The Blonds' custom-made creations take several weeks to produce for clients, who include fashion-forward celebrities with a penchant for wild, intricately-designed ensembles: Beyonce's corset in her "Upgrade U” video and Katy Perry's sparkly "Smurfs" dress, for instance. And of course, they've recently dressed  Lady Gaga, Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj.

As for their wish list, they're holding out for an icon – Madonna – and a newbie, Lana Del Rey. "I'm obsessed," said Phillipe.

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Under the helmets: Models get prepped backstage before the start of The Blonds show.

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A structured, crystal-studded corset is paired with jewelry by nOir.

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'70s glamour gets a modern update by The Blonds.

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A close-up look at the intricate detail of a corset from the Fall 2012 collection of The Blonds.

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A flirty, strong design that's supposedly well-suited to riding a motorcycle.

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