Performance Puffer

Photos by Erik Tyger

My love life consists mainly of workout dates, and meatless, cheeseless, dairy-free dates at Chipotle.

Holiday gifts picked out based on a loved one’s passions are always on point. Besides diamonds and import car parts there aren’t many trinkets I treasure more than sports gear and luxury fashion for fitness.

I have a sportaholic one hundred pound puppy, too.

Besides eating a sixty-five dollar MAC Kabuki brush and a Phillips Sonicare Diamond Head Toothbrush, he yanked my VS Black Packable Puffer, perfect for all athletic outings, off of a dining room chair. The zippered pocket transformed into his teething ring.

The Calvin Klein Black and White Performance Puffer is a complement to my Countdown to Christmas Holiday Buying Guide.

Shop the collection. I just stopped writing to wrap one up for a nice Army man who purchased one for his Polish girlfriend.

Designer Chocolates

Photos by Erik Tyger

My holiday hit early. One of my customers, whose makeup I have applied over the years for her various grandchildren’s weddings, exclaimed to me, “I wish I could give you a box of chocolates.”

My reply, “oh, you can!”

Michigan born Tobi Tobin has traveled the world as a model and designed spaces for famous names in Hollywood. She recently expanded her L.A. based brand to include unisex fragrances, candles and luxury chocolates.

Her concept is affordable clean luxury.

A six piece, or “Petite” box of chocolates with or without nuts, is $48. Making this an ideal detail to deck the halls with or gift to indulge a hostess with. Shop the candles and fragrances here.

I paired with a glass of Malbec barreled in the Lone Star State another customer gifted me.

How sweet the season is.

Summer Luvin’ No. 8

All photos Steven Drescher

My favorite luxury body cream is Estée Lauder’s White Linen. Launched back in 1978 this floral and fresh scent is described as cool, clean & crisp.

The Fan Scallop seashell on the porcelain jar captures the essence of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The top notes contain lemon and peach. The middle: orchid and hyacinth among others. The fragrance, created by Sophia Grosjman ends with honey, Tonka bean and oakmoss.

A seven ounce jar featuring the seashell sells for fifty-five dollars. If a jar can be located. This item sold out across the board before anyone could mark Memorial Day.

The elements capture the purity of white linen dried in the sun.

Brow Drama

The only day to day drama is the brows. Anytime I open up the package to a new Estee Lauder DARK BRUNETTE Brow Multi-Tasker the moment is similar to Christmas morning at about age eight.

This beauty gadget takes brow art to a new level for women of all ages and all ethnicities — minus the added tools. One end consists of a definer, powder element that springs open in the middle and a spoolie brush on the other end.

“Wow,” exclaimed makeup artist Kyle Ricker when I sat down to let him work his wonder.

When I work with this at home or at work, or in the field I simply flip the instrument around like a baton in my hand until I have the results I need. I tell everyone to practice before they make dinner, or after, and dinner dishes are being put away. This way there is time for error when learning how to use AND… the face is going to be washed anyway before bed. Listen to this — I don’t want to wash the Brow Multi -Tasker off! The va-va-voom feeling is captured with this little creation. Comes in eight shades and sells for under thirty dollars.

By the way… in life (or at least mine) “drama” doesn’t exist. Only the conscious level at which individuals choose to show up in self-awareness.

Naveaux for Chanel

There is a familiar and ultra-glamorous face on the Coastal Ohio Trail who has entered the arena of luxury cosmetics. Her name is Leah Naveaux, a native of Huron who moved later in life to the Toledo bedroom community of Perrysburg. Her vivacious personality, talent and artistry has earned her the title of Resident Make-up Artist for Chanel.

Lipstick, Lumiere and Leah

I sat down with the polished pro to trade trade secrets about skincare, makeup, hair and the upcoming VIP Event all women should attend with their husband’s credit card, Scentsational.

The event is set for Saturday, May 4 at Dillard’s Franklin Park location in Northwest Ohio.

All the major brands in beauty will be represented. Leah and other makeup artists will be on hand to perform complete applications. This is the day and age where everyone is on camera, online all of the time. This is the perfect opportunity to learn tips from the pros and possibly walk away with some of the five-thousand dollars in raffle prizes up for taking.

Call 419-473-9600 to make an appointment with Leah or any of the other major brands owning this industry listed in the event flyer.




Go from bland to bam with this must-attend industry event.

Magnum Opus of Outerwear

First Daughter Fashion

Pictures: Steven Drescher

I own two pieces of fashion with the First Daughter’s name, Ivanka Trump, sewn on the label.

The coat I wear to workouts, running errands, walking Lake Erie’s Lab Pup and to other ultra-casual outings, isn’t durable or fashionable to withstand the public’s eye or icebox elements.

I have a fear of falling on ice, and one of bruising a butt cheek (I did this years ago and the area is still holding on to a lot of pain). Factor in a fear of looking frumpy when the Great Lakes region shows its glacial beginnings.

The bottoms buttons and I can truly sit outside with the hood up content as a bunny rabbit without any of the gelid conditions getting into my South Florida-born bones.

Confidence in the cold.

Winter Blast: Boots to Wear

shoe statement in the snow

All pics: Steven Drescher

Some cold weather dernier cri can create as much drool from the mouths of aficionados of the arctic element fashion world as an icicle dripping from their home’s rain gutter.

That would be me when I laid eyes on the Ugg Valberg Fur-Cuffed Boots in the Dillard’s showroom.

I even picked up the phone, called, The Sole Man, John Brandolino on Duval Street in Key West, and told him, “I have to have these boots. I need a favor.”

So swankey, yet designed for the snow. Two pairs of heavy wool socks fit nicely inside the design.

Here is why:

  • Rich suede uppers with a plush Toscana sheepskin cuff at top
  • Features a fixed strap with hardware at top rear
  • Partial medial side zipper for an easy on-and-off
  • Soft and breathable leather linings
  • Soft and breathable, leather-lined PORON® and foam cushioned footbed for all-day comfort
  • Durable crepe-like rubber wedge and outsole

If one is going to live near the Great Lakes, one needs great outfits to take on the outdoors. Plus, there’s the matching gear to sharpen the style of this formidable and oh-so fashionable snow shoe.

Killer Kimono

Ladies love luxury loungewear.

Silk, satin, and spandex are materials designed to relax and recharge in because of the soft composition.

I own one pair of sweatpants. The kind all blogs warn against, the frumpy, old school kind with a drawstring tie at the top and elastic bands at the ankles.

They read “Guard” down the side in white atop of old red fabric.

Though vintage fashion at this juncture, unfit for consumption.

Even though a North Coast Winter was settling in and the Dillard’s loungewear department is loaded with the brand new Ugg Robes, blankets, socks, loungewear and leggings; my soul lies somewhere and anywhere South of Palm Beach.

I went straight for the skily, smooth texture and delicious feel of spandex and choose several of the kimonos by In Bloom by Jonquil.

I wear this one all of the time and was drawn to the black and white design so sleek for time in the city.

The sophisticated layout of the pattern puts me into work mode and the breathability of the fabric is on point for those ten to thirty minutes any woman spends with her hairdryer.


Scentsational Fall 2018 a sensational beauty event

There is glam and then there is Hollywood Glam. The theme of this year’s Dillard’s cosmetics department’s Fall 2018 Scentsational VIP event is Hollywood. The red carpet will be rolled out for makeup artists representing the top names in global beauty and over five thousand dollars of luxury skincare, makeup, fragrance and accessories will be raffled off as prizes for those who qualify.

* Each one hundred dollar purchase qualifies for one entry. In addition, that customer will be given twenty dollars in Dillard’s Beauty Rewards.

Plus, each customer who buys or reserves items anytime between now and November 17, 2018, the event date, will be given a free holiday cosmetics case filled with product.

The Estee Lauder case will contain:

? Full Size Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

? Deluxe Sample Reviltalizing Supreme Moisturizer

? Deluxe Sample Advanced Night Repair

The lips can be removed and placed strategically to another part of the case and the zipper is adorned with a lipstick and fragrance bottle. The color scheme, texture, sequins and design will carry any woman of any age over into Valentine’s Day 2019.

Only at Dillard’s Franklin Park Mall.

To see this year’s number one “Gifts of Wonder” click here. To view the Estee Lauder raffle basket and contents, including two Kate Spade gold plated champagne flutes, click here. To read the Estee Lauder #LoveBreaksAllRules campaign go here.

Polarized a new pair of shades

The latest piece of fashion I scored, I knew nothing about prior to them becoming mine — pair of tortoise shell Zoey sunglasses polarized with black and pink lenses.

I wanted new sunglasses, something snazzy, so this summer I began recycling, giving away and selling shades to make way.

When a store manager walked by and asked if there was anything I wanted from cosmetics or accessories I had just set the pair out to purchase that day.

Which just goes to show – the Spirit is always at work.

Score a pair at any Dillards on the mainland.

Dress Key West Duval Street, sandals – Kinos Key West and all photos by Steven Drescher.