Beeline2Beauty

Beauty Retailers are Holding Their Breath

If you don't think that the current economic climate has the major beauty retailers holding their breath for the outcome, think again.  I think the phrase "trickle down economics" holds true for all companies who depend on mainstream people to buy their products and services.  The economic engine is slowing down and we are spending less and taking stock of our needs rather than our wants.  Yes, even those designer shoes and purses are getting a second thought.  In my video on Coach I said "what recession?", but it was intended as a pun and not to be taken seriously. As the jobless rate continues to increase, putting thousands of people out of work it only makes sense that no person or company will be completely exempt from the fallout.  To my surprise even my favorite department store "Macys" will be closing some of their stores to shore up their economic position.  On an up note, companies are starting to do some serious marketing to get consumers into the store to buy their products.  As you have seen, Estee Lauder has really been proactive with sales and free giveaways.  I see more of this from other beauty retailers coming in the future because consumers will need to justify why they spent "X" amount of dollars and they can say "oh, I got a free bag, lipstick, lipliner", etc.   Hopefully, we will see our economy begin to recover and prosper, but right now it doesn't look good. 

OMG Piper Palin with A Luis Vuitton Purse

 

Hello and greetings everyone.   Is that Piper Palin with a $750.00 Luis Vuitton bag or am I seeing things. Why in the world would mom allow her daughter to be photographed looking like she was part of the up and coming Hilton clan?  Hmmh, mom is doing fabulous with those girls - simply FABU!  Maybe we should vote for McCain.   Maybe we could all get a stimulus package that includes designer handbags and Gucci shades.  Oh yeah and if McCain doesn't make it (God forbid), maybe as President she could get us all gift cards to Saks or Neiman Marcus.  I hear that she has been shopping there as of late and dropping some major bucks (on the RNC of course).  Well, if they don't win the election, the silver lining will be that she gets to keep the clothes.  Ms. Palin, wake up and wise up.  How could you do such a thing when you claim to understand the plight of regular people.    

Obama Bucks

First off, TGIF to all. I had a wonderful week and I hope to have an even better weekend, but it sure has started off heated.  Today I returned home from work to hear of an offensive drawing of Obama called "Obama Bucks".   The drawing features Obama with huge donkey ears and includes watermelon, KFC Chicken, Koolaid and ribs.  The drawing was provided compliments of Ms. Diane Fedele of San Bernardino County in Southern California.  She used it in one of her newsletters to a Republican Women's Group.  Her depiction of the "Obama Buck" was full of negative stereotypes used to represent African Americans.   You don't have to be a rocket scientist or card carrying member of the KKK to figure this one out.  Ms. Fedele has indicated that  "it was not racist". Hmmh, that's strange because it begins with "what sort of buck would Obama be on" and then goes on to create every stereotype she could think of as it relates to African Americans.  Both Republicans and Democrats alike have condemned her actions as racist and bigoted.  I guess what I am struggling with is her blatant denial of racism in the face of such an "in your face" attack on Obama.  Ms. Fedele is purported to be the President of a Women's Republican group in San Bernardino County.  She is supposed to be a leader, yet she cries ignorant of the obvious racial tone of the picture.  What in the heck was she trying to do?  Was she trying to unite?  Was she trying to condemn Obama for being African American?    One thing for sure, this fool sure has received her 15 minutes.  She is not fit to be President of the Kennel Club, but yet she serves as the President for this organization.  I wonder what her followers must think? They are probably thinking she's pretty stupid if it took every major news organization, blog and YouTube to inform her that what she did was racist. Way to go bozo.

THE GREAT DEBATE

Okay, it wasn't great, but it was pretty good.  The last two debates were absolutely boring and more of the same.  Tonight's debate was well moderated and even funny at moments. In the last debate, McCain said "my friends" a number of times until I wanted to choke the last two minutes of life out of him (just kidding!).  This debate, he made an appeal to Joe the Plumber.  Now, that in itself would be of no consequence, but I thought it was so clever when Senator Obama spoke right into the camera and said something to the effect of "Joe, if you're out there, I can speak with you too".  Whether you like Obama or not, he is intelligent, articulate and charasmatic.  He can retort any statement made to sully his good name and he has proven in my humble opinion that he is more in touch with the Main Stream folks than McCain. Tonight we learned a great deal about Joe the plumber and both candidates specifically addressed him and his plight as a businessman, healthcare, etc.   Specifically, I appreciate Senator Obama's understanding of the importance of educating our children.  I would like to see these plans in more detail, but he certainly values education and feels that college should be within the reach of all children, should they wish to go.   And what about McCain's running mate.  Where are her interviews?  When will she go on my favorite show, "Meet the Press"?  Why would you have to shield her from regular press channels and then when you catch the nut, she is going on about how Senator Obama pals around with terrorists.  Oh yes, don't be fooled by the so-called Vice President debate.  She was prepped from sun up to sun down for three days.  My daughter could have pulled that one off.  Oh yes, my daughter is 11.   Folks, don't fool yourself into thinking this woman is one ounce of what Hillary Clinton is.  She is not as smart, nor has she the experience of Mrs. Clinton.  Her idealogy is in complete opposition to Hillary's.  The only thing she and Hillary have in common is gender.  The buck stops there.   I think that the McCain camp made a huge faux pas by choosing someone like her as a running mate.   Tonight the candidates were asked if they felt like their running mates would make good Vice President's and McCain made soccer mom Palin sound more like a spouse in the White House than his equal.  Oh yes, "she knows about Autism". Humph, wasn't convinced that he really believed she would serve him well.   And from what I hear, she was a bad soccer mom.  I don't trust her, nor do I trust that she understands from an intrinsic perspective the problems facing our nation at all levels.  If McCain kills over, we may as well go with him if she gets into office. No, I don't like bashing women, but this woman compared herself to a pit bull.  When was the last time you did that?  

On A Positive Note

Today was yet another sad day on the Wall Street front as the Dow Jones plummeted to close at  8,579.19.  This is a five year low and further indication of the financial apocalypse that seems to have plagued our nation.  What does this mean for the average Joe or Jackie like you or myself?  Well, firstly, if you are a risk taker and you placed the majority of your money in stocks, you probably have seen your nest egg decrease about 38% or more. In the face of all this doom and gloom, I am re-reading the book, "The Secret" because when things get tough, we tend to forget the power of positive thought.  It's very difficult to find a "happy place" when the world is in such turmoil.  To this I say meditate, turn off the news and pray.  Try to be that positive voice in resistence to the negativity that has pervaded and permeated our lives.  We all have something to be grateful for.  The beauty of things is that they can always be replaced.  If you lost your house, but you have your health, be grateful.  If your bank account is empty, but you have the love of your family, be grateful.  We were never meant to hold those things forever anyway.  As we move on in life's journey, we must understand that there is a destination and it doesn't include the house, the savings accounts, etc.  Live well, love hard and insist on happiness, even in the face of our current situation.  I'm going to put up a video that I hope takes you to a happy place. 

Breast Cancer Awareness

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Breast Cancer awareness month.  With statistics holding that 1 in 8 women will have a diagnosis of breast cancer during her lifetime, this is a disease that we all must be concerned with.  The beauty and fashion world has long rallied behind research and education, not only for breast cancer but all cancers.  Below are some of the beauty and fashion industry icons and what they will be doing for Breast Cancer month.

Purchase BCBG Max Azria’s Icon Komen 100 percent silk pashmina or one of its two beautiful Faith sunglasses designs. Twenty-five percent of the retail price of the $110 wrap and $120 sunglasses will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  The website is http://www.bcbg.com.

GUESS Inc. will contributes 20 percent of the sale of its $115 sporting pink watch to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. GUESS also guarantees a minimum donation of $25,000. Available at GUESS retail stores and guess.com.

DuWop will donate 20 percent of the sale of Pink Shimmer Brick and LipLingo Pink to the Cosmetic Executive Women Cancer and Careers Foundation. The Pink Shimmer Brick, $18, and the Liplingo, $32 are available at duwop.com and eLuxury.com.

Also, I have not verified it, but the Coach Outlet store typically provides an additional 20 percent discount off merchandise for the month of October.  If you're in the market for a Coach purse, you can't beat the deals during October.  Please call your Coach outlet for specific details and dates.

Make sure to do your part, even if it's as little as $5.00.  It is the collective efforts that help to raise millions of dollars for education and research to find a cure.  

Heather Locklear Locked Down

  For all of you Heather Locklear fans, I regret to inform you that she was arrested on Saturday night for allegedly driving while under the influence of prescription drugs.  911 was called when she was driving erratically and continued to drive back and forth over a pair of sunglasses (hope they weren't Versace).  It appears that Ms. Locklear who is 47 is going through a rough period, and I am sure that she will pull herself together and get out of the funky depression that's brought her to this point.   Don't worry, she's out of jail on $5,000 bail and before you know it, she'll probably check in to some fancy rehab and become a spokesperson for some worthwhile cause. However, she must also figure out how to deal with the awful mug shot that was taken of her.  It is absolutely abhorrent.  We all know Heather as a beautiful, glamorous woman and they make her look like someone who they just grabbed off skid row.  She really should have tried to bribe someone not to take that awful picture.  Remember folks, there really is no perfect.  The illusionists rule the world. 

My Humble Opinion of the Bailout

Good morning, I wanted to take a few minutes to give my humble assessment of the mortgage crisis and what penalties should befall those individuals who find themselves at the mercy of the government. In my humble opinion, I feel that the large community of banks and other financial institutions who benefitted so greatly at the cost of the average American taxpayer should not be given the umbrella they seek. It will be difficult, if not impossible for the "government" to fix this situation and change things for the betterment of society. I have yet to see something that the government has taken over or played a large part in that works well. Private industry is a good thing and the government would probably muck this situation up all the more. I personally feel that the companies and corporations who find themselves in this situation should have to answer financially to the taxpayers. What does that mean? Well, I think that the banks and corporations should have to wipe your debt (credit cards, HOE loans) clean and give you the same umbrella that they are receiving. That will never happen and it would probably be an economic nightmare, but would it really be any worse than what's already happening? Would that not get some burden off of the taxpayer and leave more spendable cash in the kitty. Hmmh, just a thought. What do you think should happen?

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I thought I would share this satirical comedy spoof from Saturday Night Live.  It's hillarious and features Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.  If you haven't seen it, get ready for your daily dose of funny. 

News You Can Use

The bad news keeps on coming with regards to financial institutions and corporations. Just when it was announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were being bailed out by the government, we learn of the demise of another financial giant, Lehman Brothers Corporation. Lehman Brothers who held offices in New York, as well as London and Tokyo was a solid investment company that was founded in 1850. The company has weathered many financial storms, but could not rise above the sub-prime mortgage crisis. After several quarters of net losses and the inability to solidify a buyer for the company, they have decided to file for bankruptcy. To this, I can only say "WOW". These events are very telling for the state of our economy and where we are headed as a nation. There is no doubt that an already weak dollar will further weaken, as our economy takes another blow to the belly.