I was a bit underwhelmed and unimpressed by the looks at yesterday’s Emmy Awards show, which is why it’s taken me all day to muster the energy to write about it.  (Must I?  Sigh.  Okay.)  What I did like were the soft, artfully messy, feminine updos that abounded; what I don’t like is the “red lipstick” trend, which feels too harsh and forced. 

Debra Messing’s hair looked pretty and modern, not to mention amazingly healthy and shiny (it’s all about the shine, people!)

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Cologne attended a private event last week at the Estee Lauder offices in New York City to discuss the company’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign–chic and for a good cause!

A full forty stories above New York City, I sat at the late Estee Lauder’s well-preserved desk daydreaming about the day I would work in a corner office of such luxury. The room afforded pristine bird’s-eye views of the Plaza Hotel, Central Park, and the Upper East Side, and I thought about what a revolutionary woman Estee was. 

The Senior Management team, including the Lauder Family, welcomed the new generation of press (us brilliant beauty bloggers!) to an exclusive reception in the beautiful salon of their corporate offices. After mingling with fellow bloggers, I got the chance to chat with Daniel Brestle, the Vice Chairman & President of the North American division. He let us in on a little secret about what’s next in regard to product trends: anti-aging products in…Botox out.  He was also genuinely intrigued by (and appreciative of) the new era into which beauty bloggers are whisking the industry.  (Jolie’s note: That’s right, my dears, we’re here to stay!)

Then, the lovely Mr. Lauder spoke on behalf of the Estee Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. So far they have raised approximately $35 million for research and have distributed over 80 million pink ribbons across the globe. Present in over 60 countries, their purpose is to reach every corner of the world with the message about the importance of early detection, and to raise significant funds for research in order to make a world without breast cancer a reality. Today, 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime; however, on the brighter side—the five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer has jumped to 98%.

Thus, this October, fifteen of the company’s most luxurious and sought-after beauty brands will sell Pink Ribbon Products to raise money for the cause. Join the fight (while looking beautiful in the meantime) by purchasing the following popular products (note that some of them are not yet available, as they’re limited-edition and will go on sale in October):

Aveda Hand Relief
Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection Lip gloss
Bumble and Bumble Classic Hairspray
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Ribbon Pink
Darphin Predermine Wrinkle Corrective Serum
Donna Karan Cosmetics
Estee Lauder Beautiful Eau de Parfum Spray
Estee Lauder Perfectionist CP + Wrinkle Lifting Serum
Estee Lauder Evelyn Lauder Lip Color Collection
Estee Lauder Elizabeth Hurley High Gloss Lip Color Collection
Estee Lauder Pink Reflection Duet Jay Strongwater for Estee Lauder
Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil
Lab Series Skincare For Men Daily Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 15
La Mer Crème de la Mer
Ojon Revitalizing Mist
Origins Peace of Mind On-the-spot Relief
Prescriptives Pink Ribbon Collection
Sean John Unforgivable Eau de Toilette Spray
Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming Eau de Parfum Spray

~Cologne Schmidt

Kate Moss debuted a cute new haircut in London last night while out at Soho club Punk.  Hair ruts are easy to get stuck in, so it’s nice to see a perennially long-haired gal mix it up and keep it fresh.  Still contemplating a chop of my own…but I’ve been growing my hair out for so damn long that I’m loathe to squander the length on a whim!  We shall see.  In the meantime, I’ll live vicariously through celebrity reinventions.

Lauren Conrad from The Hills has signed a three-book deal with HarperCollins to write young adult novels loosely based on her own experiences.  I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict they’ll be huge bestsellers.  Sigh.  I’m currently sick as a dog (have a few different, un-fun things personal things going on) so have been spending a lot of time in bed watching half-hour shows, as that’s all my attention span can handle right now.  Last night, I watched about six episodes of The Hills in a row, and I couldn’t stop thinking how damn cute Lauren’s perfectly wavy hair is.  Below is her author’s photo, and predictably, the ringlets are utter perfection.

My favorite method for fat, juicy curls like LC’s: apply mousse and a tiny bit of grooming cream to wet hair, then quickly blowdry.  (Spend one or two extra minutes on the hair near the crown and around the face, but don’t worry about making the rest of it look sleek; just get it dry.)  Starting about five or six inches down from the roots, near the ears, use a 1″ to 1.5″ curling iron–or a newer flat iron with rounded plates, like those by CHI or FHI–and curl the hair, wrapping the front pieces outward, away from the face.  Repeat all over the head, alternating the direction of the curl, and finish with another dab of grooming cream or shine serum, on the ends, and a shot of volumizing or soft-touch hairspray.

While reading Vanity Fair today, I noticed that Graydon Carter’s Editor’s Letter claims that only 10% of Americans part their hair on the right side (as I normally do), according to an old study done by sociologists John and Catherine Walter.  For some reason, this intrigued me…even though the blurb further claims that right-parters like me exhibit “obsessiveness, defensiveness, fanaticism, weakness and woodenness.”  (Well, I never!  Why don’t you tell me how you really feel, Graydon?  I don’t know if we can be friends anymore.  Sniffle.)  I then…er, fine…obsessively spent 15 minutes flipping through the magazine, looking at how various models had their hair parted.  Here’s a link that discusses the study, which, in regard to “typically” masculine or feminine attributes, is a bit sexist…but so is brain chemistry!

Holy mullet, Jenny Humphrey!  Taylor Momsen channels Scarlett Johansson (remember that haircut?) below on the Gossip Girl set.  Is this cut permanent…or just a wig?  (Please let it be a wig.  Please let it be a wig.)  It’s gorgeous and sexy and edge and very Debbie Harry…but I don’t know if I can stomach little J. as a rocker chick.  What say you, GG fans?