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

Cologne attended the Erin Fetherston show and went backstage, where she interviewed makeup legend Bobbi Brown; her dispatch, below!

With the Spring 2009 pastel-swirl-marshmallow-poof look surrounding me backstage at Erin Fetherston, I had a chance to chat with some of the beauty specialists that make the magic happen–including Bobbi Brown herself!

In an attempt to embody Fetherston’s collection, while at the same time capturing the trends for the upcoming spring (and they talk about spring as if it were just around the corner…don’t we wish), Bobbi went full-blast on the shimmers and glitters that she has been experimenting with for years. The new trend on the runway is sparkly jewel-toned metallic eyeshadows, which gives a look Bobbi describes as “sophisticated ballerina.”  The key, however is not overdoing the shimmer; Bobbi recommends just a bit on the eyes or high on the cheekbone over blush to look “natural in a beautiful way.”

Cologne’s photo from the 2nd row at the Erin Fetherston show

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Please give a great big Jolie welcome to our brand-new NYC correspondent, Cologne!  A recent Berkeley graduate and Big Apple newbie, she’s bravely navigating the choppy waters of Fashion Week, all so you and I don’t have to.  (’Tis so much comfier lazily watching from our chairs at home, no?)  I’ll let her take it from here!

Being a New Yorker now for a mere seven days, I already find myself backstage in the tents of Bryant Park—the epicenter of New York City’s Fashion Week. Drizzled with paparazzi, celebrities, socialites, and models alike, this really is the glamorous scene for the rich and famous. And, just as the larger-than-life fashion could have made any girl’s heart flutter, so did the beauty. (And by beauty, I mean products.)

First stop, Liz McClean, where the models (minus their scary-skinny frames) looked to die for with smoky eyes, tousled braids, and pale-pink nails.

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Daria Werbowy, Kate Moss and some other hot chick (okay, Lara Stone) naked in a bed together…with fabulous hair to boot?  A fantasy that both men and women can get behind!  I cannot express to you how much I covet Kate Moss’s bangs and casual waves here.  Coaxing my cowlick-y frizz into beach babe perfection is something of a Jolie obsession, and considering how messy this style looks (and is supposed to look!) you wouldn’t believe how much flipping effort it takes.  My best method for waves after the jump:

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