Velvet hats, golden hats, plumed hats, veiled hats dotted with beauty marks, Stella Dottir’s hats and dresses are a little bit of that hand-sewn, vintage, couture magic; and it’s not just because she sews in each of her hats an ancient symbol that harnesses the power of attraction for the wearer.

As a beauty client, the minute you step into a salon or spa you’re faced with decisions and questions: How much should you tip? What if you’re unhappy with the results of your service? What is proper beauty salon etiquette? We turned to spa owner and aesthetician Katherine Goldman for help. Here are her top 5 tips on beauty salon etiquette.

In this high pressure world of professional and personal obligations, many women aren’t likely to spend more than a few minutes in front of a mirror to put on their makeup. Things get even more hectic when you have to take a look from “day” to “night.” Not to worry . . . it’s not nearly as complicated as it seems.

Skin care is key year round; but during the colder months, it’s even more important. Harsh winds, freezing temperatures, sleet and snow can lead to cracked, dry and irritated skin.

We set out to “test the best” over 30 days to determine whether some of the top skin care products on the market truly lived up to their promises. For this particular endeavor, we chose a day cream and a night cream. Two products rose to the top of the list, so we put them to the test to see how they performed over 30 days.

Most of us are happy with a really good cleanser and moisturizer. But those who are truly serious about skin care know the value of a good serum, and the art of “layering” products.

This season Mad Men released its second collection for the loved Banana Republic chain. To say we’re fans of the show and their previous collection of course would be true, but what caught our attention the most this time was the jewelry! With the spring upon us and summer here before we know it, the release of this collection was the perfect opportunity to start enhancing our costume jewelry collection.

When finances are rocky and the price of shopping for good food can almost require a co-signer, it can be difficult to make quality or cost-friendly decisions. The statement, “I can’t afford to eat healthy,” needs to become, “How can I afford to eat healthy?”

Award season is pretty much over (I think), and I gotta say I ain’t mad at that. But that’s a bit sad because I used to get so amped up over seeing my favorite stars being recognized for their work in music, film, television, and humanitarian efforts. The speeches, the perfect video shots of prideful spouses in the audience, and the standing ovations for legendary appearances by the industry’s greatest. I mean, I would rearrange my schedule just to catch all of this.

For the fourth fabulous year, on Feb 7, Doris Bergman hosted a Pre-Valentine Oscar Gifting Suite at Café La Boheme to offer Hollywood Insiders and VIPs a chance for a sneak peak at some of the hottest new fashions, cosmetics, gourmet cuisine, sweets, and more.