Salut, mes amis!  I’m writing from Paris, where the internet access has been very limited.  For a rundown of our trip, I urge you to visit Makeup Bag – the talented and gorge Erika has been posting some great pictures.  (There’s also a stalkerazzi shot of Ashley Olsen that we took when we spotted her just off the Quai Voltaire.)  As for me?  My camera charger is gone, my computer is dead, and my time in the apartment is, of course, limited, so a more in depth rundown of the boutiques and sights (and my Kirsten Dunst run-in at Chacha Club!) will have to wait.  Tonight, the gals are getting together for dinner at Le Grand Colbert–better known as the restaurant Diane Keaton visits in Paris at the end of Something’s Gotta Give–and then taking a midnight run to the Eiffel Tower.  Bisous to you all, and I’m back on Friday!

Jolie by the Seine, looking like a chic hobo

From Makeupbag.net

T-minus 48 hours until I jet off to Paris with Total Beauty to attend the Beyond Beauty 2008 Conference!  Ol’ Jolie hasn’t been to the City of Lights since 2004, so I’m tickled as Elmo (groan) to be returning.  There’s an official itinerary planned and all manner of brand appointments (Lancome!  Clarins!  Ooh la la!), but I have two main missions: revisit Versailles, and then soak myself in as much non-touristy Frenchiness as I can stand.  The Eiffel Tower?  Champs-Elysees?  Notre Dame?  Mais, non!  I have nightly drinks planned with local friends in all the off-the-beaten-path watering holes, want to check out the fringe arrondisements–slightly gritty, but with real flavor and heart, and plan on parlering as much Francais as I can.  (Do you have those friends that visit foreign countries and return punctuating every other sentence with foreign words and phrases in an unplaceable accent?  I have realized, to my chagrin, that I am one of those assholes.  I simply embrace it now, head hung shamefully low.)

Here’s Saturday night’s destination, which I am most excited about: The Chacha Club.  Other spots we plan to hit up: Bar du Plaza Athenee, Flute L’Etoile, Neo and Le Baron.  Reports, photos and (I hope!) good stories forthcoming…

Below is Kate Hudson, arriving in London at Heathrow airport after a transatlantic flight.  No doubt our darling Kate flew first class, as you do, and she looks cozy enough with her artfully tossed scarf, slouchy layers and oversized sunglasses hiding a makeup-free face.  Photos of celebrities disembarking from planes always amuse me, however, because even if Jolie sucks it up and tries–for whatever reason–to look glamorous when flying (Tom Ford glasses!  Louis Vuitton speedy!), she still resembles a homeless person.

Yesterday was the biggest social event on the English calendar: Cartier International Polo Day at Guards Polo Club in Windsor.  I’ve been lucky enough to attend the past two years, and it is a seriously massive to-do; the 2006 party remains the best and wildest I’ve ever attended.  (And, believe me, with the pretty polo people, that’s saying something!)

Prince Harry attended with Chelsy Davy last year; this year, spectators were treated to an insanely dapper-looking Prince Charles. 

(more…)

So, remember how I said I went to Miami this weekend for a day?  It all happened so quickly that I barely remember the actual trip!  Note to self…flying across the country for less than 24 hours is not reeeally worth it, unless Eddie Vedder will be waiting for you when you disembark.  I was invited by Nivea to attend the Shay Todd fashion show, and stayed at the Hotel de Soleil on Ocean Drive.  After the show, I went to the after party at Mokai, and then (randomly!) encountered a dear old friend at Set.  I’m working with Nivea to have a giveaway for you, so I should have those details Friday…stay tuned!

The Shay Todd fashion show at the Setai Hotel, sponsored by Nivea and (my favorite antioxidant cocktail!) VeeV

My room at the Hotel de Soleil

Another view of my sadly underenjoyed room at the Hotel de Soleil

Hotel balcony - with private jacuzzi!  No time to enjoy it, alas

Me, at the Shay Todd show.  I started off the evening with sleek, straight hair.  Five minutes later, I kid you not, I ran back to my hotel room to find a rubber band and put it in a ponytail.  How I ever survived south Florida summers, I shall never know.  (Oh, right, because I fled!)

Friends at Set

What were you doing this weekend?  If you’re any kind of fabulous, you were either in Bridgehampton at the Mercedes Benz Polo Challenge 2008 (like Chace Crawford, Nicky Hilton and Argentine pretty boy Polo spokesman Nacho Figueras), or in Midhurst, England (my old stomping grounds!) at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray.  (I did not polo, so therefore, I am not fabulous.  Simple math.) 

Model Jodie Kidd (sister of makeup artist Jemma Kidd) sporting baby blue nail polish on her toes and multi-colored pink, orange and yellow on her nails.  Unexpected!

Photo from Dailymail.co.uk

Chace Crawford, not trying to be gorgeous, but unable to help it

Photo from People.com

I’ll be radio-silent tomorrow since I (and all of my anti-frizz products) am flying to Miami as Nivea’s guest to attend the Shay Todd fashion show.  Never fear, my dears, as I promise to bring back some swag for you in the form of a product giveaway!  The whole trip is bound to wreck havoc on my skin–I’ll be in Miami for, literally, 15 hours, with barely even enough daylight time to visit the beach or dip in the pool–and part of me is like, “Um…why did I agree to fly across the country for drinks and a party?”  Sigh.  I can never turn down a free cocktail.

Ring?  Who needs a ring?  Kate Middleton chills out at this weekend’s 46664 concert in London, looking gorgeous as always.  Does this chick ever have a bad hair day?  I Googled “Kate Middleton” and “hair” (yeah, make of that what you will) and came across this fascinating article from the Daily Mail that I remember devouring a couple years back.  It appears that Kate visits Richard Ward in Chelsea off the Kings Road, which is hardly surprising, since Richard is one of the most high profile hairstylists in England.  (He does countless celebrities, as well as a few royals like Sophie, Countess of Wessex, but is most famously linked to Elizabeth Hurley.)  I wonder…do you think Richard’s minions make housecalls, or is Kate simply ridiculously good at the personal blowouts?  And how much time does she spend getting ready every day?  Does she wear sweats and sport ratty ponytails on her days off from making fabulous public appearances, or lounge around her house looking like butter wouldn’t melt?  Things to ponder.  (Very frivolous things…but still.)

Photo from People.com