Trendy Bits - Vicky Christina Barcelona!

Summer is here! And we all know that the warm breezy nights awaken those sensual free spirited impulses that have been buried for too long under the blanket of winter. A good way to get into the swing of things quickly is to celebrate the movies that encourage the freedom of love and sexy in a romantic and unique way. Woody Allen's 2008 masterpiece - Vicky Christina Barcelona is just what the doctor ordered. The film stars Spanish sex symbols and real life couple Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz and the very lovely Scarlett Johansson. The three stars are caught in an irresistible love triangle, and the distractingly beautiful scenery provided by the esquisite richness of Spain convinces us of how easy it would be to lose yourself in a summer fling with an impossibly handsome Spaniard, even if he is still in love with his equally gorgeous ex-wife. This would be a great treat for this long holiday weekend and the perfect way to welcome the summer season. Enjoy!

Trendy Buzz Spotlight - Sex and the City 2

The girls are back! And they look better than ever. Its hard to believe its been two years since the long awaited big screen version of the beloved HBO show populated movie screens worldwide. And now the story continues as the girls tackle life's many unexpected highs and lows against the backdrop of glamorous and exciting locales. It has to be pointed out that at the London premiere, Sarah Jessica Parker paid homage to late the British designer Alexander McQueen by gracing the Red Carpet in his one of a kind creation. She always made it known in the past that he was one of her favorites and it was truly a fitting tribute. The other gals did not disappoint. Kim Catrall was ravishing in her black sexy number and she dazzled in her Fred Leighton gems. Kristin Davis sparkled in her vintage gold Norman Norell gown. And Cynthia Nixon was quietly seductive in her blue Narciso Rodriguez dress. Looking good girls! And from what I hear, so does the movie.

Trendy Beauty Report - Marc Jacobs BANGS it out

Marc Jacobs is taking his venture quite personally it looks like. His new fragrance Marc Jacobs Bang will be making its debut in Bloomingdale's July 30th. But his ad campaign is in full throttle and he is eager to add his own personal touch by posing au naturel in his typical dramatic fashion with just the oversized bottle of his creation covering his manhood. Jacobs agreed to be the model after after coaxing from business partner Robert Duffy. And the idea to pose nude came from not being able to visualize what clothes would work with the message of the campaign. "Once I agreed to be the model, I couldn't see what I would wear to express this. We tried it with clothes but it didn't work". Expect to see the splashy ads running in men's lifestyle and fashion pubs sometime in September. Word on the street is that Jacobs is also interested in developing color cosmetics and also playing around with the idea of a men's and women's underwear line. When it comes to Marc Jacobs enough is never enough. Keep it coming!

Trendy Buzz Summer Prep

Now that Skin season is fast approaching, its time to do some major shedding and get rid of the winter residue. In order to rock your new bikini THE RIGHT WAY, waxing should be part of your monthly schedule. Waxing can be a daunting experience only if you end up in the wrong hands. New York fashionistas should already be familiar with the 2 destinations that are known for providing the ultimate grooming experience. Bliss Spa and J Sisters. Bliss Spa is the one joint that I can attest to personally. There are several locations all over the city and they each consisently deliver top notch service in the waxing department. They utilize the "painless as possible" philosophy thanks to their special concoction - Poetic Wax. I can say with confidence that you will not be doing much screaming or wincing and the embarrasment factor will be at its lowest if you subject yourself to this more-than-worth it ritual. If you decide to take the plunge, you should go for the "betweeny" which is basically a toned down version of the Brazilian wax. Its reasonably priced at $50 and lasts for about 3 weeks. Another Waxing hotspot is J Sisters which happens to also be a celebrity enclave. They are a full sevice salon but they are best known for their flawless reindition of the Brazilian wax. Their price points are quite high with the Brazilian costing about $75. But the experience of being serviced in their midtown townhouse is second to none. They also have bridal packages that include a manicure, pedicure, hair, makeup and the famous Brazilian for $500 and up. Beauty doesn't have to always equal pain and these two beauty meccas prove that beyond a doubt.

Bliss Spa: Check out www.blissworld.com for complete location listings - 888-243-8825

J Sisters: 35 W. 57th St., 3rd Fl, New York, NY 10019 - 212-750-2485

Trendy Bits - Kelly Strikes Again

So, for those of you who are faithful to the Real Houswives series, you must have been left aghast by the disturbing but entertaining episode this past Thursday. The women minus Jill Zarin and The Countess were partying it up at on a luxurious yacht in St. John to kickoff the festivities marking Ramona Singer's "many" years of marriage to her Italian Stallion Mario. We all anticipated a drama filled episode especially with Kelly and Bethenny being in the mix. But nothing prepared us for the physical and mental breakdown that we witnessed. Kelly has been doing major damage control claiming she had a "breakthrough" as opposed to a breakdown but it is a liitle to late for major cleanups. Kelly accusing Bethenny of trying to kill her was when things really took a turn for the worse. Reality shows are far from the real deal but Kelly's psychosis was blindingly clear. Either she needs to seek a therapist ASAP or she is one gifted actress. Whatever the case I am hooked and will be devastated when this ride is over.

Mary J. Blige Takes On Role Of A Lifetime

Mary J. Blige is ready to wade in the acting pool by taking on her biggest challenge yet - playing legendary songstress Nina Simone. Filming starts sometime this fall. Rumors had been swirling since 2005 that Blige was being considered for the role but the project fell through. It looks like this time everything is back on track and with a script by screenwriter Cynthia Mort who wrote it with Blige as an inspiration, this seems to be a done deal. MTV Films originally developed the idea but the film will now be produced by UK's Ealing Studios. Considering Blige has very little acting experience, it will be interesting to see the end result.

Trendy Report - MET's Costume Institute Gala 2010

This was definitely a party I would have dropped everything for! This past Monday was the MET's Costume Institute Gala and all the stars came out to showcase their best bods encased in designer splendour. These are a few of my favorites. Zoe Saldana is perfection in her Givenchy one-shouldered navy gown. It fits her like a glove and more than makes up for the iffy number she rocked at this year's Oscars (even though I secretly admired her bravery). Another fashion risk taker is Big Love actress Chloe Sevigny who never disappoints when it comes to making a whimsical appearance on the Red Carpet. Her Proenza Schouler turtleneck lace dress may not strike a chord with most people but I think its uniquely FAB. And any excuse to show off nicely toned legs is a good one. Elegance is a necessary asset for any star and Joy Bryant certainly embodies the term in her Marchesa confection. She looks absolutely angelic but yet oozes major sex appeal. Thats a dress after my own heart! Another gown I would absolutely die for is the gorgeously dramatic Giambattista Valli gown Rosario Dawson dared to swaddle in. The corset and bow detail is quite appealling not to mention appropriately feminine. And the lilac color highlights her amazingly toned arms and flawless complexion. Of course no one can trump the Queen Bee of fashion - Sarah Jessica Parker. I am a sucker for anything with vintage appeal so anything by Halston will undoubtedly be a showstopper. The Sex and the City star is stunning from head to toe. Her silky cascading hair is a perfect accent to her shimmery gown. Partying never looked so good!

Trendy Buzz - Fashion Report - Armani's Hotel in the Sky

Designer Giorgio Armani is known for his sexy and dazzling confections littering the Runways but now he will also be hailed for his latest venture. He is now the proud designer of his very first hotel in one of the hottest and titillating cities in the world - Dubai. The massively impressive 160-room hotel happens to be the tallest building in the world and boasts an array of goodies including spas, restaurants, and retail stores. Armani hotel takes up eight floors and he insists that the spaces are a reflection of his unrivaled wordly style; "The idea is that you should feel as if you are coming to my home". This is the first of hopefully many collaborations between the Italian magnate's Armani SpA and Dubai based Emaar Properties. A collection of hotels and resorts are scheduled to hit major cities around the world. Dubai has been struggling to recover from the damaging publicity due to the unstable economic climate brought on by increasing debt and the global financial recesssion. But Armani and his partners are not discouraged and see their magnificent work as a testament to the fact that Dubai, like most rich cities will eventually recover from the recession as long as businesses like theirs keep pumping money into the economy. There is no doubt that this is a much needed boost for Dubai.