Wind is Your Enemy: Best Hairspray Glamour Choices!

When it comes to hair wind is NEVER your friend. It's your worst enemy. Sure, a strategically placed high-powered fan is good for dramatic effect, don't get me wrong. Alas nothing is more frustrating than spending an hour coiffing your hair, making sure each and every strand is perfectly in place, just to  get it blown to bits in the wind tunnel that is 5th Ave! Fight back against Mother Nature I say! Personally I really don't want my bangs to move, as an unfortunately parted fringe or an inappropriate glimpse of weave track is not the look. The hairhoppers of the early 1960's would all agree with me. Those epic bouffant hairstyles needed lots of lacquer to maintain their size and structure. Here are my two favorite hairspray options: one for when you want hold but movement and one for when you want a helmet. Now go and SHE-llac!

 

Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray by L'Oréal

This amazing hairspray has been a cult beauty product for decades, coveted by celebrities, beauty insiders and freelance hairstylists alike. Launched in France in 1960, Elnett was a technological breakthrough containing special strong hold polymers that were diffused in an ultra-fine micro spray, and was easily removed with light brushing. Other hairsprays on the market at that time contained heavy lacquers which were very difficult to wash out. It was unavailable in the US due to it's higher VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels and FDA regulations—and smuggled back from Europe by the suitcasefull! Recently a slightly tweaked formula with a more eco-friendly hydrofluorocarbon propellant debuted in the USA. The mist isn't quite as fine as the European version but to save the ozone layer it's a small glaMOUR sacrifice to make. It's distinctive fragrance I can recognize a mile away and will always remind me of being backstage at Fashion Week. Plus, it's slim gold packaging with retro glamour girl illustration is too fabulous to pass up. You must always think of how a product will look on your vanity!

 Buy it at Target

 BY Framesi Mist Hair Spray Strong by Framesi

Ok, this is definitely my secret weapon! Part of a haircare line from Italy, this spray is for when you don't want your hair to move....ever! I use this on my bangs on windy days and I could seriously be held upside down and my bangs wouldn't lift up. No...seriously! It's unbelievable! It's a fast-drying aerosol spray with an insane extra-firm hold, it keeps your style in place while protecting your hair from UV rays, contains anti-ageing Vitamin E and a light silicone for shiny hair. You will definitely need to use a clarifying shampoo after this or wash an extra time or two to remove all excess buildup. An extra step yes but well worth that amount of staying power.

Buy at Hair Care Choices

The Official Darian Darling Paper Doll Book *FREE DOWNLOAD*

Paper dolls were first made popular in mid-18th century France. Called pantins (dancing puppet), these jointed dolls were hand drawn and came with paper fashions. By 1820, they were imported to America as inexpensive children's toys and became the cut out variety we know today. They have remained popular with children and collectors alike by usually featuring popular characters or celebrities and their glamorous wardrobes. I have been fascinated by the beauty of these dolls since I was a child and have collected them for many years. Spending countless hours flipping through their pages and admiring the beautifully rendered outfits, they can most surely be called the catalyst for my love and appreciation of fashion illustration.

My illustrator Hayley Heartbreak has really outdone herself on this project! This 16 page printable book features a paper doll version of me (and all my actual outfits and hairstyles) but also some of my glamour tips AND my most delicious Darling Delight recipes! Download me, cut me out, dress me up and play with me dirty!

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD LINK
Best printed on A3 size paper
http://www.sendspace.com/file/s332dx

Marilyn and Manhattan!

In 1955 Marilyn Monroe tired of the Hollywood rat race and moved back east looking for a fresh start. She had recently went through a painful divorce from baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and her latest film There's No Business Like Show Business received terrible reviews from critics. She longed for a respected career as a serious actress and was fed up with the dumb blonde roles being assigned to her. You must remember that this was an era in Hollywood when actors were "owned" by the movie studio they were under contract with and had to film whatever role the studio execs deemed appropriate. Marilyn was also still committed to a contract made before she became a star, getting paid a mere $1,500 a week when co-stars with less star power were being paid much more. So she broke her contract with 20th Century Fox, was virtually blacklisted in Hollywood and started studying with Lee Strasberg at the prestigious Actors Studio in New York City. Marilyn adored her new found freedom in NYC and loved being able to blend into it's teeming masses. She would become the first actress to form her own film production company, and later renegotiated her studio contract. The newly formed Marilyn Monroe Productions would be paid $100,000 plus a share of profits for each film. In addition to being able to work for other studios, Marilyn had the right to reject any script, director or cinematographer she did not approve of. Marilyn remained in New York, off and on until 1961 and even after returning to LA, retained her NYC apartment as a second home.

The majority of these amazing photos were taken during a single week in March 1955 by NYC based photographer Ed Feingersh. He had been assigned to shadow Marilyn for a Redbook cover story titled "The Marilyn Monroe You've Never Seen", and a few of his photos ended up being published. But when Feingersh died, several rolls of film were discovered from those candid sessions and show a different and rarely seen Marilyn,  not the showbiz persona but the casual, struggling NYC actress. They were collected for the first time in the now out of print, must have book Marilyn Fifty-Five. These are some of my favorite photos of Marilyn, and the mix of her ethereal beauty combined with the urban grit of NYC....it's quite the magical combination.

"Could it be?"

"where is that damn train?'

 "is it?"

I hate waiting for the train.

Commuter glaMOUR

underground

Marilyn and Manhattan

When smoking was still glamorous.

Livin' it up on a rooftop in New York City

Sightseeing with her 3rd husband, the playwright Arthur Miller.

A relaxing Sunday in Central Park.

Inside the Actors Studio

Shopping on 5th Ave. at Elizabeth Arden

Glamour Choice: The Little Black Beret!

Barbie doll

Ask any fashionista and she'll tell you that a Little Black Dress is a wardrobe staple. While I thoroughly agree, I also think a Little Black Beret is a fashion necessity! Stylistically it's completely diverse, conjuring up images of Parisienne ingenues, beatnik existentialists, soldiers in Special Military Forces or even downtown bohemian artists. It's also been a glaMOUR choice for many blondes throughout the years, and adds a touch of romance to any outfit. The most famous beret reference is of course Faye Dunaway, who wore one as 1930's outlaw Bonnie Parker in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. Luckily this little accessory never seems to go out of style and is always in vogue. I have featured a beret in my style arsenal for years and it's become an unofficial trademark of mine. The circular flat shape can be sporty and viva la résistance when worn facing forward or sassy when slouched and jauntily tipped to the side; when pulled down to cover all or part of the forehead, it's more dramatic. Whether you choose one in felt or mohair, sequined or studded....just get one! Oui oui.

Marilyn Monroe

Brigitte Bardot

Faye Dunaway

Candy Darling

Debbie Harry 

Jerrica Benton

Madonna

 Alicia Silverstone

 Kate Moss

 Darian Darling

Check out Berets.com for a quite large selection of styles and fabrics!

The Sweet Smell of Seduction: Bombshell Perfumes!

"There is no future for a woman who does not use perfume properly"- Paul Valéry

Nothing is more important than a grand entrance...especially for a glamorous blonde bombshell. A flash of platinum hair is a visual stimulant in it's own right but one should also dazzle the crowd with a signature aroma. An exclamation point to your appearance at a party or soirée, leaving behind a bevy of admirers to bask in your fragrant wake as you sashay past. A dreamy assault of delicious proportions on the senses of those around you. "I am here. I am blonde. I am delectable. You love me. Get into it". 

Seductive. Voluptuous. Extravagant. Intoxicating. Powerful. These adjectives best describe a perfume appropriate for a bombshell....or even to describe a blonde herself. A Bombshell prefers to wear heady, full-bodied, even old-fashioned perfumes, as to create a bold statement but is careful to use it sparingly, as to avoid being upstaged. Clean. Innocent. Fresh. Subtle. Polite. She would never dream of wearing something described as such....how utterly pedestrian. A bombshell's fragrance must also have a strong visual impact when sat upon her vanity or dresser; an ornate and beautiful bottle that functions as a gorgeous accessory or objet d'art. Spray and breath in the glaMOUR!

Tip: The same perfume will smell different on everyone. Make sure to test it on your skin and be sure to wait about 10 minutes to allow the fragrance to react to your body chemistry before buying it. Smell it after the first application and then smell it again after waiting. This will allow you to sample both the top and middle notes of the scent and give you a good sense of how the fragrance will linger throughout the day.


"The less clothing a Bombshell wears, the more perfume she dons"- Laren Stover, author of The Bombshell Manual of Style


 
Amanda by Amanda Lepore

Designed to evoke the glamorous image of champagne wishes, succulent red lips and lustrous blonde hair, Amanda was created for NYC nightlife legend Amanda Lepore by perfumer Christophe Laudamiel (originally as a birthday gift). Launched in 2008, this limited edition perfume perfectly captures Ms. Lepore's elegance, beauty, strength and larger than life persona. To summon up thoughts of nightclub glaMOUR, her signature fragrance is contained in a glittering disco ball, decorated with 1,000 Swarovski crystals, complete with a blush-colored satin atomizer.

 Notes: Red Lipstick, Strawberry, Yellow Mandarin Orange Blossoms, Bergamont, Steamed Rice, Cucumber, Violet, Tuberose Absolute, Orris Butter, Cristal® Champagne.

Order at Artware Editions 
(212) 463-7490 or info@artwareeditions.com

 Black Orchid by Tom Ford

Housed in a jet-black, art-deco inspired, ribbed glass bottle and appearing as though it was a prop from a retro film noir, Black Orchid is the debut fragrance from designer Tom Ford. Launched in 2006, this seductive elixir contains an exotic and trademarked breed of black orchid and was designed to evoke timeless luxury, worldly glamour and to wreck havoc with your desires. Delish!

Notes: Black Truffle, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, effervescent Citrus, Black Currant, Jasmine, Tom Ford's Black Orchid, Lotus Wood, Patchouli, Incense, Vetiver, Vanilla, Balsam and Sandalwood.

Buy at Sephora 

 Blue Amber by Montale

A mysterious, sultry and elegant fragrance dipped in golden hues of warm amber, boutique fragrance Blue Amber by Montale is a salute to timeless royalty and one of the most admired and coveted fragrance ingredients throughout time. Its aluminium bottle has been especially developed to guarantee that the perfume is preserved for a long time in a dark place, the light being the main enemy of perfumes and rare essences.

Notes: Italian Bergamot, Bourbon Geranium, Coriander, Patchouli, Vetiver, Amber, Vanilla

Order it at Aedes De Venustas 
1-888-AEDES15 or (212) 206-8674 

Butterfly by Hanae Mori 

 Delicate and sensual layers of aromas collide in Butterfly, a rare blend of ethereal elegance by Hanae Mori, the legendary grande dame of Japanese haute couture. Introduced in 1995,  the warm combination of notes was inspired by Japanese cherry trees in blossom, wild berries in the forest and the earthy richness of the undergrowth, while the distinctive frosted glass top represents the beauty and graceful shape of a butterfly with folded wings.

Notes: Strawberries, Bilberries, Black Currant, Bulgarian Rose, Blackberries, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Rosewood, Almond, Praline.

By at Sephora


 
CLASSIQUE Eau de Toilette by Jean Paul Gaultier

Inspired by the smell of the perfume bottles, jars of dusty loose powder and nail varnish vials on his beloved grandmother’s dresser, French fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier's original fragrance CLASSIQUE is an ultra-feminine, voluptuous beauty tonic. Created in 1993, the curvaceous bottle celebrates his couture roots and originally paid homage to his iconic cone bras and corsets he created for Madonna's 1990 Blond Ambition Tour.

Notes: Orange Flower, Bulgarian Rose, Italian Mandarin, Star Aniseed, Orchid, Florentine Iris, Ylang-Ylang, Indian Ginger, Soft Vanilla, Woody Amber.

Buy at Sephora

Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior

Like a red poisoned PVC apple, enchanted by a mysterious sorceress's bewitching spell, Christian Dior's Hypnotic Poison is a magic potion for modern times. Launched in 1998, this perfume is like a sweet nectar created from a dark, unusual bitter-metallic fruit and lies somewhere between fetish and fairy tales; and its aphrodisiacal magic works on men like a charm. I should know...it's been my signature scent for 10 years!

Notes: Bitter Almond, Caraway Spice, Sambac Jasmine, Cinnamon, Tuberose, Sandlewood, Vanilla, Musk, Tree Moss, Jucarunda Wood.

Buy at Sephora

 

N°5 Parfum by Chanel

Chic. Classic. Legendary. Unforgettable. These are only some of the words that can be used to describe Coco Chanel's groundbreaking original fragrance N°5. It was created in 1921 by perfumer Ernest Beaux, under the direction to formulate a completely man-made, artificial perfume; inspired by the scent of a woman rather than that of a flower bouquet. This was accomplished by the creation and use of a synthetic fragrance component; Aldehydes, which brighten yet icily distort the other ingredients. He created two series of perfume samples numbered 1-5 and 20-24 and asked Coco Chanel to choose one of them. She chose the sample N°5 and thus the perfume got its name. The first Chanel N°5 perfume bottle was a simple rectangular bottle with a top that resembled Place Vendome in Paris, and has remained virtually unchanged to this day. Originally, it was given as a Christmas gifts to her preferred clients at her boutique but was quickly released to the general public after high demand. Of course, the perfume will forever be associated with Marilyn Monroe, who famously said that she wore nothing else to bed.

Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Neroli, Aldehydes, Lemon, Grasse Jasmine, Iris, May Rose, Lilly of the Valley, Sandlewood, Amber, Vetiver, Patchouli, Vanilla

Buy at Sephora 


 
Passion by Elizabeth Taylor

Hidden inside a luxurious and opulent dark purple art deco bottle is Passion by Elizabeth Taylor, a sensual and alluring perfume created with lusty intensions.  Created in 1987, this rich and romantic fragrance has been a favorite of women around the world since its debut.

Notes: Coriander, Gardenia, Aldehydes, Artemisia, Jasmine, Bergamot, Tuberose, Orris Root, Cedar, Rose, Honey, Heliotrope, Musk, Patchouli, Leather, Coconut, Vanilla, Civet, Oakmoss, Incense

Buy at Target.com

 Tabac Blond by Caron
 

A deliberately androgynous and provocative parfume, Tabac Blond by Caron combines the leathery top notes usually found in men’s fragrances with an eternally feminine floral bouquet.  Having debuted in 1919, it was meant to blend with, and cover up the still-shocking smell of cigarettes: smoking for women was still thought to be a sign of loose morals! It was extremely difficult to find in the United States until 2000, when Caron opened their boutique in NYC.

Notes: Leather, Carnation, Blond Tobacco Leaves, Lime Blossom, Iris, Linden, Vetiver, Ylang-Ylang, Cedar, Patchouli, Vanilla, Ambergris, Musk.

Order it at Caron 
1-877-88Caron

 

Womanity by Thierry Mugler

A delectable gourmet delight which combines both sweet and savory flavors, Thierry Mugler's latest fragrance Womanity is a feminine confection du jour. Launched in June 2010, this Umami rich creation was inspired by the Cyclades Island of Greece, where the sweet smell of fig trees is mixed with the salty sea breeze of the ocean. To compliment the juxtaposition of Womanity's contrasting notes, the perfume is showcased in a futuristic yet decidedly art-deco inspired bottle, topped with a modern and edgy Heavy Metal-esque frieze and chain.

Notes: Fig Fruit, Pink Grapefruit, Black Caviar, Fig Tree Wood and Leaf

Buy at ThierryMugler.com