Lil' Blonde Darling: The Fall 2006 Gucci Bitch!

I'm wet all over again! I just stumbled upon this old Gucci ad campaign for their Fall/Winter 2006 collection. Did everyone else think this was a completely life changing moment when it came out....or was it just me? Part Helmut Newton shoot, part Michelle Pfeiffer in 1983's Scarface, this photo story really made me go for the gold and feature some SERIOUS rich bitch, 1979 high class prostitute looks throughout 2006/2007. The sleek platinum blonde bob, the ankle strap stiletto shoes, the flowing polyester disco dresses with matching hosiery, the oversize tinted sunglasses, the glitzy gold jewelry...it was all TOO fucking good. Even Gwen Stefani shwerked it on the album artwork for 2006's The Sweet Escape. Ugh, seeing this makes me want to go back to this look. Listen! Can you hear the disco calling....
 
Photographer: Craig Mcdean
Models: Iselin Steiro and Snejana Onopka.
Hair: Orlando Pita
Makeup: Peter Phillips

Darian Darling 2007. How did I do?

Just Browsing: Bleached Eye Brows!

There is nothing I love more than a bleached brow!! It's really a beauty oxymoron; dramatic and yet soft. Bleached brows were a popular trend in the 70's, made a comeback in the 90's and have been popping up in fashion editorials and on runways ever since.  It's the perfect choice if you're bored with your look and need a glaMOUR jumpstart. It works if you're tan! It works if you're pale! Plus it helps keep balance when you wear dark eyeshadow and lipstick. I also enjoy the slightly alien, mannequin vibe it gives. Do it now and behold the new you! Gorgey!!!

Nadja Auermann

Madonna

Donna Jordan

Laura Stone

Jessica Stam

 Phillipe Blond

Gwen Stefani

Darian Darling

Jolen Cream Bleach hair lightener

My favorite facial bleach! Readily available and super easy to use! Start with a clean, dry face.  Using the icluded spatula, measure about one-quarter teaspoon powder and place on tray.  Measure about one-half teaspoon creme.  Blend powder and creme well.  Apply mixture with spatula covering hair completely.  Keep mixture on for about ten minutes, checking throughout until your desired lightness is achieved.  Remove with spatula and wash your face to remove bleach residue. Be carefull not to leave the bleach on TOO long, your brows might break off. That's a whole different look!

Buy it at Drugstore.com

Haircolor Trendwatch 2010: Pop Art Blonde!

Let's be realistic, in the world of blonde hair; yellow is anathema. We spend our hard earned cash to ensure our blonde stays pale and pure. We tone away brassiness, maintain the fight on lemon and use neutralizing violet shampoos and conditioners like they're going out of style BUT.....should we? Maybe we should embrace this oh so disrespected sunny hue and go atomic! It's quite the unexpected choice. It looks punk rock extreme and yet gives off an aura of Technicolor glamour. In the 30s, 40's and 50's, movie studios often had their black & white promotional photographs hand colored, which gave blonde actresses bright yellow tresses. It can also be seen in cartoons, in the pages of comic books, pin-up art, and in the work of pop artists like Roy Lichtenstein. Give up the fight and go glow!

Jean Harlow colorized publicity still

Blondie comics

Peter Driben pin up art

Barbie doll

Roy Lichtenstein art

Debbie Harry

She-Ra catoon

Cyndi Lauper

Miss Guy

Amanda Lepore

Vitamin C

Sailormoon

 Gwen Stefani

Lady GaGa

Bright As F@#$ Yellow hair dye by Special Effects

As someone who was a teenager in the 90's, I definitely dabbled in the world of extreme hair color. This is by far and away the BEST funky color hair dye on the market! It's a conditioning, semi-permanent cream formula that stays brighter and lasts longer than any other out there. Apply it to dry, freshly shampooed, UN-conditioned bleached hair and leave on at least an hour, longer if possible. The color will last 2-6 weeks (depending on hair type), gradually washing out with each shampoo. Oh, did I mention this color glows under black light?!

Buy it at Vegan Essentials

Darling Delight: Champagne Kiss Cookies recipe inspired by the Blonde Bombshell!

For the Champagne Kiss cookie recipe scroll down or click here!

Bombshell

  -noun 

1. An explosive bomb.
   
2. One that is sensationally shocking, surprising, or amazing.
   
3. One who is very attractive.
   

 This slang term has become synonymous with beauty, glamour and sex! Originally popularized by it's use to describe Jean Harlow (who starred in the 1933 film Bombshell), it's now commonly used to describe any voluptuous, female sex symbol. It's especially linked to blondes. The image of a "Blonde Bombshell"; roller-set hair, luscious red lipstick and artfully applied liquid liner, is inexplicably linked to Marilyn Monroe, whose timeless beauty inspired decades of glaMOUR!

Jean Harlow

 Lana Turner

Marilyn Monroe

Mamie Van Doren

Jayne Mansfield

Diana Dors

 

Candy Darling

Madonna
 

 
Amanda Lepore

Eva Herzigova

Drew Barrymore

Nadja Auermann

Anna Nicole Smith

Gwen Stefani

Christina Aguilera 

Scarlet Johanssen 

Lady GaGa


 I created this recipe as a birthday gift for one of my favorite blonde bombshells, my friend; the lovely Amanda Lepore! Her trademark succulent red lips, predilection for champagne and unapologetic glamour are legendary! Here is my latest Delight, inspired by the bombshell in us all:

Champagne Kiss Cookies

Bombshell blonde sugar cookie with starlet red champagne icing

Lip Smackin' Good!

Ingredients 

* 3 cups all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon baking powder

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

* 1 cup sugar

* 1 egg, at room temperature

* 1 tablespoon Half & Half, at room tempurature

* 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure vanilla extract

 Icing

* 4 cups (1 box) confectioners sugar, sifted

* 3 tablespoons meringue powder

* 1/2 teaspoon Lorann Champagne Flavor

* 1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure vanilla extract

* 1 tablespoon red food color

* 6 tablespoons warm water

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg, half & half, and vanilla and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with flour. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with flour, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on a non-stick baking sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack.

For the icing, beat all ingredients until peaks form (7-10) minutes at low speed with an electric mixer fitted with a whip attachment. To thin icing for dipping/pouring, add 1 tablespoon water per cup of icing and stir slowly. Add 1/2 teaspoon water at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Decorate as desired.

Makes 24 cookies.

photos by Veronica iBarra

Brought to you in association with La Bella Memoria