If you’re at the office, you’re probably counting down the hours ‘til the holiday weekend kicks off. We think those hours pass more quickly with eye candy.

And today that comes to us from the Daily Mail in the form of Posh and Becks’ latest Emporio Armani ad campaign. As the paper notes, the large rope that was featured in David’s last solo venture makes repeat appearance.

But we’re more into Victoria’s hair (aside from their glistening bodies, that is.) We’re long-time fans of the high pony. And while we won’t be sporting one that sticks straight up in the air, we do rather like the idea of adding a braid.

Even you Beckham-haters have to admit they look pretty smokin’ right? We hope they keep doing these underwear ads for many seasons to come.

Kelly Osbourne used to be the punk princess.

We all remember the pink hair, heavy make-up and lots and lots of black (this princess was, after all, the daughter of the Prince of Darkness).

I was in middle school (ed note from Abby: I just fell off my chair while reading that phrase from my lovely intern. Holy crap am I old!) when she covered Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach and am not ashamed to say that I danced to it in friends’ rooms and at school dances.

We liked that she wasn’t some twiglet and embraced her and all her many quirks, both style and otherwise.

We had a little thing in my family when I was younger that when someone was wrong, he/she had to repeat this sentence three times in rapid succession, “You were right and I was wrong.”

Now, I’m not willing to completely concede on the face paint front by any means, but I do have to admit that Drew Barrymore may have been on to a trend (albeit one I’m not necessarily into) with her painted cheeks and forehead at Bonnaroo.

This spread from a story in the newest issue of V Magazine (shot by Willy Vanderperre) shows Iris sporting the darker, edgier version, in comparision to Drew’s hippie fairy.

Regardless of my feelings on the matter, it seems that I may have to accept this as a trend for a bit longer than expected. But then again, it might just grow on me, in which case I’ll totally do the “You were right…” speech, even if you all can’t hear me.

So I know that many of you were annoyed with me when I told you about the nail polish collaboration between MAC and manicurist Jin Soon Choi without showing you the colors.

But now we can finally give you a look at Nail Trend F/W ‘09, which is available starting August 27th.

My favorite switches every time I try a new shade. Though right now, I’m rather partial to the khaki green. But as I said before, what I like the most is that they actually feel new.

Which one do you like best?

I am incredibly particular about my pillows. I would prefer to pack them and take them with me everywhere I go. But this is obviously not the most convenient situation, especially with the whole $15 per checked bag situation.

But I’ve never really thought much about my pillowcase, other than to make sure it looks nice on my bed. Until now, that is.

Of course, I’ve heard of women who sleep with their hair set in rollers and wrapped in a silk scarf to keep it from frizzing up. It seems very old school and kind of glam, but nothing I’d ever bother to take the time to do. What I didn’t realize was that my choice of pillowcase can actually affect the way our faces looks too.

Growing up, there was one beauty rule that was always drilled into my head: stay away from oils. As someone prone to horrible breakouts, I thought greasy liquids were a death sentence for my skin and something I stayed as far away from as possible.

Fast forward to two years ago when I finally got over my fear and first tried the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils. The slippery feel of it on my skin weirded me out, but once I forced myself to stick to it I found that it was unparalleled at removing makeup and helped my skin look better.

Now I use oils for everything. I cleanse off heavy eye makeup with the Shu Uemura Fresh Cleansing Oil (the new limited edition bottles by Manga artist Moyoco Anno are gorgeous btw) and I moisturize with the luxe Sponge Ladi Avokanto. I swear my skin glows and there’s not a zit in sight.

But it’s not just my face that benefits from the deluge — I’ve been experimenting with body oils as well. Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Argan Body Cleansing Oil is fab, although it does take a little bit of time getting used to the lack of lather and how liquid-y it is. I also just started using the new Bamford Organic Nourishing Body Oil on my legs and I swear they’ve never looked healthier. And you won’t end up looking like Gwyneth on The Tonight Show.

I think oils get a bad rap and many women are still too scared to try them out. Are you an oil-phile or do you steer clear of the slippery stuff?

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

Post-Melissa’s addiction admission last week, I feel it’s time for me to come clean too.

I have sixty-seven bottles of nail polish in my collection, every single one a different color. In fact, I have everything from periwinkle to mod white to highlighter yellow, but there isn’t a classic red in the bunch.

Scarlet nails make me think of Melanie Griffith circa 1985. There’s always been something old lady-ish, maybe even tacky about a red nail to me, until I tried out Deborah Lippmann’s latest launch, It’s Raining Men. It’s the reddest of the red — bright, hot and on the other end of the spectrum from my usual offbeat color selection.

It’s both crisp and clean and I love the way it looks on my super-short nails. I’m not sure what triggered this new found love of crimson but I know I’ll be rocking the retro shade all summer. So if Bordeaux’s a little too dark and Candy Apple’s a little to orange, check this out.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

This afternoon the Daily Mail showed us the first pictures of the characters from Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

And while we feel that Tim’s cycle of remaking a classic in a quirky weird way starring Johnny Depp might be getting a little tired, there’s no arguing that the hair and makeup teams are doing some genius work on this set.

I’m kind of loving Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, perhaps because it’s such a very different Anne than we’re used to seeing. And I forever love a perfect scarlet lip with ultra-pale skin.

But from a beauty standpoint, this look leads us to ask the question: when you go from brunette to blond (a current topic of much discussion here at the office) do you bleach the eyebrows too, or do the more dramatic dark brow/light hair combo?

It’s true. I can’t stop myself. I love the feeling I get when I glance down and see a flash of cool on my digits.

Abby says she would call for an intervention except that she likes seeing what I show up with every day. (She also just told me about Rescue Beauty Lounge - who make this amazing glitter polish - I might have to go directly after work.)

Currently, I’m rocking a horizontal-striped double-Essie combo (Aruba Blue topped with Bermuda Shorts). I live for the Sally Hansen nail pens, and fully see some lightning bolts in my nail future. I also love vertical stripes and painting each nail a different color.

And I will forever maintain that being the person who comes up with the names of nail polishes is undeniably the most amazing job ever. Reading the label on the bottom of a nail polish bottle brings me endless joy.

Are you as obsessed as I am? What is your go-to nail hue?

—MELISSA ELLIOTT

The Trovata v. Forever 21 case may have ended in a mistrial, but it seems the beauty world (in Europe at least) is a step ahead in protecting designer brands.

WWD reports that the European Court of Justice ruled for L’Oreal and against three companies that were knocking perfumes owned by the cosmetics giant, including Trésor, Anaïs-Anaïs and Noa.

Not only had the companies created facsimiles of the scents, but also the bottles and even the outside packaging. Really, does it get more blatant than that?

Obviously, I’m no legal expert and I do realize that there are different trademark laws, etc associated with fragrances as opposed to clothing. But, regardless, it is refreshing to see legal protection being offered to a company whose resources, knowledge, and creativity are the reason the product exists in the first place.

If only we could just throw a little of that legal justice Trovata’s way. Sigh.

Okay, so this new technology we just came across over on Allure’s blog sounds way cool in a very Minority Report sort of way.

Apparently there’s a company in Japan that is developing a “fragrance communication” system that allows you to send a scent via the internet.

What the what? Yeah, we did a doubletake too. Seems that you hook something up to your computer that then follows digital commands and mixes the fragrance for you to smell.

Of course many perfumes are super complex, so there are sure to be some limitations. But it sounds like sooner rather than later you’ll be able to test a scent before you buy it online. Just keep some coffee beans at your desk when you’re trying out a bunch.

Our one fear? Pop-up fragrance ads that become the digital equivalent of unwanted scent strips inside of magazines.

These days it seems everyone has a “signature scent.” But how many of those scents are actually tailored to your specific preferences?

To celebrate the launch of their Mémoire Liquide Bespoke Perfumery Counter, in the newly revamped fragrance department of Bloomingdale’s 59th Street store, sisters Robin Coe-Hutshing and Jennifer Coe-Bakewell will be conducting one-on-one blending appointments tomorrow and Thursday from 11-7.

The sisters, who are also the masterminds behind Studio BeautyMix at Fred Segal, have been custom blending fragrances for 25 years. They’ll guide you through their 75 fragrances and help you mix and blend your very own scent, which you can then buy in the form of a perfume, shower gel or body lotion.

Or if you’re fragrance ADD like me, you can create a mini coffret of three different scents to mix and match.

I had the pleasure of doing one of these appointments and it was definitely a treat to have Jennifer and Robin guide me through the process. I listed off a few of my favorite smells and from there the sisters started to hand me different notes they thought I would enjoy. They were absolutely dead on— nine out of 10 they chose were just my type.

You can schedule an appointment by calling 212-705-2403 and get a scent of your very own.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why the mullet’s become the hot cut in Hollywood?

I blame Taylor Momsen. She dabbled in mullets late last year. Then Taraji P. Henson inexplicably traded in her chic bob for a neck cape. And now Kristen Stewart? (Yes, we know it’s for a movie, but still.)

Why would anyone with access to the best of the best hair gurus choose to wear a style that’s more redneck than red carpet? And perhaps more importantly, what self-respecting stylist actually thinks this is a good idea for their client? Do they really want to be known as the master of the mullet?

On top of the catastrophe of the haircut itself, it makes any outfit look awkward. Can you imagine Taraji’s mullet topping off that gorgeous white Roberto Cavalli dress she wore to the Oscars? It does the designer a serious disservice because we’re all too busy staring at a loopy hairdo instead of even glancing at the the garment.

Usually when a style takes the celebrity world by storm (the Rachel, the Pob, etc.), it’s because it’s flattering even if you don’t look like a celeb, but I really don’t think there’s anyone, model or celebrity alike, who could pull this look off.

Unless of course I’ve missed the point and it’s supposed to be cool and kitschy? Please tell me it’s not.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

‘Tis the season of the outdoor music festival, which tends to bring about some very cool, and also some very bizarre fashion choices.

Gwyneth, the Kates (Moss and Bosworth), and Sienna have all perfected fashionably bohemian rock festival garb over the years, throwing in a pair of wellies when the weather demands, or wearing the tiniest of dresses while grooving in the desert at Coachella. Drew Barrymore, on the other hand, we’re less sure about.

Now we usually love Drew and all her fairy dust sensibilities. We’ve even lately embraced some of her colorful beauty choices. This one from Bonnaroo over the weekend (while enjoying a little Bon Iver) is not one of them.

She looks like she just finished playing dress-up with a group of five year-olds. And while we love embracing our childlike innocence as much as the next girl, this just seems to be taking it a bit too far. Really, a feather? Though we will give her credit for picking a rather lovely palette of glittery face paint to work with.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s fragrance, Ma Dame, is turning one and the lady is ready to party.

As part of the celebration, the company has made a mini-movie in which they’ve hidden clues about a special guest that Ma Dame has invited to join in the festivities. We’ve watched it like five times in a row and still aren’t sure. It’s in black and white with pops of pink in everything from balloons to an
“x” written in a notebook. There are corsets on dancers and someone calling JPG on an iPhone, amid countless other possible hints.

Watch the video and tell us what you think.

This week of fashion parties continued with last night’s celebration of Ruffian’s new book, Ruffian Inside Out.

Though the book, written by Style.com’s Executive Editor Nicole Phelps, officially launched in April, we’ve been loving it since their AW09 show in February. Jamie Isaia’s photographs of Brian Wolk and Claude Morais are basically fashion porn.

Thus the party was a celebration not just of the book, but of the talented designers themselves. John Demsey, Group President of Estée Lauder, played host, even offering up his own home for the night and we spotted everyone from Simon Doonan and Rachel Roy to MAC ûber makeup artist James Kaliardos.

MAC has a special relationship with the brand and the book — they created a limited edition, just-for-Fashion-Week, not sold in stores lipstick shade for the Fall 2009 show called Ruffian Red, (which Britt obsessively rocked throughout Fashion month) that they so generously handed out again last night.

I also got a sneak peek at those fabulous Jin Soon-created polishes we mentioned last month and I can tell you, judging by the gorgeous orchid shade I saw, the collection is going to be fantastic.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

Reese Witherspoon has joined the ranks of the celebrity perfumer, thank to her relationship with Avon. She’s been an ambassador for the brand for the past two years and will now launch her first fragrance in November, In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon.

We often question how involved these famous people get in the production of the scent that bear their names, but we’re guessing Reese isn’t lying when she talks about her part in the process to WWD.

Her inspirations come from steamy nights in the south, her momma, and lots of white flowers. And even daughter Ava got a say, “I asked her which one smelled the most like me.”

So while some of these collaborations rub our cynical selves the wrong way, this one just doesn’t. It kinda seems like a natural fit and a genuine partnership.

And we’re guessing Jake must have liked it too. Which is pretty much enough reason for us to give it a spritz.

If you live in New York, you know that we have been cursed with some downright nasty weather these past few weeks. It’s rainy and muggy and dark almost all day long.

Almost as depressing is what it’s doing to our hair. Fluffy, frizzy, mess is a bit of an understatement. Which makes these shots of Lara Stone for Eres all the more enviable. We’ve been ogling them ever since they were first released.

Of course, she’s ridiculously attractive no matter what, but how sexy are these? And of course the expensive lingerie doesn’t hurt either. But now we’ve begun to fixate solely on the curls. Now this is how you do big hair.

We’re thinking it might be time to bust out the big curling iron and our Bumble and bumble Surf Spray and embrace the insane humidity.

We’ve been feeling a bit under the weather lately and in major need of an energy boost. This NYC weather has been killing us. How about you?

And just like that an email arrives in our inbox telling us about Vital Juice Daily’s Retreat event next Thursday through Saturday.

It’s taking place at the old Virgin Megastore space on 14th and Broadway and will offer a slew of free workouts, health foods, massages and nutritionists. They’re even sampling the Blueprint Cleanse which we’ve been dying to try.

We’re thinking this might be exactly what we need to get us healthy again…and fit into the Foley & Corinna dress we just bought for our friend’s wedding in two weeks!

Major magazines have major closets - one filled with shoes, one with bags, one with clothes and one positively overflowing with beauty products.

Those beauty products get cleared out with major sales, up to four times a year with the proceeds going to charity, and I used to run them. I’d get an almost sick thrill from watching which items the editorial staff attacked. It could be the ugliest shade of bright orange lipstick, but if NARS ran its way down the side in bright white letters or interlocking C’s sat at the bottom, I’d place all my money on a Manolo beat-down.

The interns and I watched with eyes agog as usually composed women dived across tables for YSL foundation two shades darker than their skin, while less expensive but still amazing brands languished on the table.

Sure, everyone has their favorite brand, but there’s a fine line between brand loyalty and snobbery. I may be addicted to Kiehl’s, but I won’t ignore the recently launched Olay products on my desk. In fact, some of my favorite new products come straight from Duane Reade: Bioré Skin Preservation, L’Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara and Aveeno’s Nourish shampoos and conditioners.

There are plenty of brands that have earned their reputations by producing both efficacious and innovative products, there are also a lot of brands that create less than great products that ride the fashionable celebrities-love-it wave which defeats the purpose of any product.

When you’re shopping for products is it about the brand or do you actually research the product behind the label? Furthermore, are you loyal to one company or is your medicine cabinet home to every brand under the sun?

—MEGAN MCINTYRE