Sneak Peek to the August 2010 issue of ASOS magazine starring cover girl Olivia Palermo, the 24-year-old star of MTV’s The City.

Inside her stylish world and wardrobe. The new queen of street style. No one does the New York look quite like Olivia Palermo. But while on The City there’s a dark side to her fashion dealings, Francesca Babb discovers you shouldn’t believe everything you see on television… (shot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC)

“It’s unfortunate (of the reputation that the TV show has given her), but I think that people understand what they see on that show is not who I am. It’s not accurate. I’m funny, I’m enthusiastic and I’m not a negative person. I always try and look for the good in things.”

“I love New York but when you’re young you should live in different places. In five years I’d like to be living in London with my boyfriend Johannes (Huebl).”

Photo credit: Photographer Tesh

ASOS Magazine will go live asos.com on August 1st, 2010

ABOUT ASOS.COM

Established in June 2000, ASOS.com is the UK’s leading independent online fashion and beauty retailer and offers over 37,000 branded product lines across womenswear, menswear, footwear, accessories and beauty. Targeted at fashion forward 16-34 year olds, ASOS.com attracts 8.1 million unique visitors a month from around the world. Each week the website adds 1,500 new products giving its stylish customers a reason to come back and shop.

The London-based online fashion retailer is a huge success in the UK and has recently outlined its plans for global expansion. ASOS.com ships to 167 countries and will launch standalone websites in the US, France and Germany later this year. Customers have the option to receive goods via flat rates and express shipping.

Each August, VOGUE profiles spectacular women at every age—from their 20s to their 80s—for our annual Age issue. This year is about transformation: A new career? A new love? A new direction? Why not?

As Anna Wintour notes in her Letter from the Editor, “Anyone’s life can turn on a dime; and yet this seems especially true for women, who invariably inhabit numerous roles at the same time.”

At 67, former first lady of Japan Miyuki Hayotama eagerly embraces change and transformation in the moments following her husband’s abrupt resignation.

Former MTV president Christina Norman takes on a new role in her 40s as CEO of OWN, Oprah Winfrey’s new network.

And courageous 54-year-old Patti Hansen, who more than won her battle with bladder cancer, embodies stoic perseverance in the time of an unwelcome ordeal. Read full story here!

All three women were photographed for the magazine by Annie Leibovitz.

Steve Madden, the man behind one of America’s top shoe retailers, will be appearing on MTV’s new docu-series, “MTV Hired”, on Tuesday May 25, 2010 at 6:30 PM EST. The highly anticipated episode will take viewers inside the Steve Madden Headquarters in Long Island City, NY, as five candidates interview for their dream job within the company’s design department.

For a business as well established as Steve Madden’s, one would expect to arrive to his office and encounter a very corporate environment. One will see, this couldn’t be any further from the truth. Steve Madden’s headquarters are the perfect mix of fun meets professional, which Steve feels is the ideal environment to fuel creativity.

Steve Madden is passionate about fostering emerging talent, and his participation in the series showcases his dedication as a mentor to the footwear industry. It also provides a unique perspective into the decision process employers incur when interviewing potential employees.

Recently celebrating the brand’s 20 Year Anniversary, Steve Madden is proud to welcome the latest member to his team. Want to know who it is? Be sure to tune in!

About Steve Madden:

Steve Madden designs, sources, markets, and sells fashion-forward footwear and accessories for women, men and children. The shoes and accessories are sold through 85 company-owned stores (including the Company’s online store) as well as department stores, and apparel, footwear, and accessories specialty stores. Steve Madden licenses certain of its brands to third parties for the marketing and sale of certain products, including for ready-to-wear, outerwear, cold weather accessories, eyewear, hosiery, and bedding and bath products. The Company is the licensee of various brands including Olsenboye for footwear, handbags and belts, Elizabeth and James and l.e.i. for footwear, and Betsey Johnson and Daisy Fuentes for handbags. The Company recently acquired Big Buddha and will design and sell handbags and footwear under the Big Buddha brand name.

About MTV Hired:

MTV will give job seekers hope when it premieres the new docu-series “MTV Hired” on Monday, May 17 at 6:30pm ET/PT. “MTV Hired,” airing weekdays, takes an inside look at the lives of young people attempting to secure the job of their dreams. Viewers will get a firsthand look at the ups and downs experienced by applicants during the interview process and the nail-biting wait before they get a call back from a potential employer.

The series features a wide range of professions, including personal training, shoe design, event coordinating and many more. In each episode, viewers will meet the employers looking to fill these positions, get to know the hungry job applicants, sit in on the interviews and get a front-row seat when one lucky person lands the job of their dreams. Who will stand out and who will crack under pressure? Find out on “MTV Hired.”

I’m so excited to share with you my interview with the gorgeous Erin Kaplan. You may know Erin from staring in MTV’s hit series The City opposite Whitney Port and Olivia Palermo. And, at 26, Erin is ELLE Magazine’s youngest ever Director of Public Relations.

In this interview Erin Kaplan talks to Marta Walsh about her beginnings working at ELLE Magazine. How working with Joe Zee ELLE Magazine’s Creative Director has changed the way she’s thinking. Puts the on camera drama with co-star Olivia Palermo in perspective. She even dishes out some style and beauty secrets and reveals another secret about her hair.

Erin Kaplan
Photo courtesy of MTV

Marta Walsh: When did your fascination with fashion and style begin?
Erin Kaplan: Honestly, it wasn’t until I started working at ELLE that I really became interested in fashion. I grew up with three brothers so there definitely wasn’t a lot of fashion-talk around the house. However, I have always been interested (obsessed really) with magazines and publishing…

MW: Working for a top fashion magazine such as ELLE is every girl’s dream. How did it all happen for you?
EK: I started at ELLE as a Marketing assistant and gradually made the transition over to Public Relations.

MW: What does it take to succeed with a career in fashion?
EK: To be successful in any industry I think you just have to be ambitious and passionate about the work you’re doing.

MW: What attracted you to star in MTV’s The City and what do you like and dislike about being famous?
EK: I’m definitely not famous! I never, in a million years, thought that I would be on a television show. I’m much more comfortable staying behind-the-scenes, but I think being on camera has given me unique perspective and insight into the entertainment industry that I never would have acquired otherwise.

MW: We all want to know, what is it about Olivia Palermo’s character in The City that gets to you every time? Are we all just seeing the director’s cut or you both actually hang out in the real world?
EK: There is tons of footage that never makes it on-air. We film for months and months and only minutes make it onto the show.

MW: What are some of the most memorable words of wisdom you’ve learned from working with ELLE’s Creative Director Joe Zee?
EK: I’m not sure there are specific words of wisdom, but Joe is such a “big idea” person so working with him has really made me think about things on a much larger, grander scale. It’s definitely fun to try and make some of the bigger ideas come to fruition.

MW: On the The City you always look beautiful and impeccably put together. What tips can you give us on staying looking fresh during a long day at the office all the way through that last minute night out on the town with your girlfriends?
EK: Accessorize!

MW: What is next for Erin Kaplan?
EK: Well, I’m obviously still working at ELLE and we’re filming Season 2 now—so there is a lot going on!

Erin Kaplan
Photo courtesy of MTV

Erin Kaplan on Style & Beauty Secrets:

I keep my hair beautiful thanks to…
Anthony at Julien Farel.

My favorite skincare products are…
I’m incredibly basic in my skincare routine. I’ve always just used Dove soap and Olay moisturizer.

I get my eyelashes looking long, full, and sexy using…
Dior Show

The best lip-gloss I ever owned…
Rosebud Salve

My signature fragrance is…
Escape by Calvin Klein (which I’ve worn since High School…)

The one beauty product you will always find in my makeup bag is…
Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender. It takes all shine away when filming

My number one style secret is…
Accessorize. I’m not very adventurous in my wardrobe choices and tend to stick with the basics. I’ve learned (with Joe’s help) that adding a few simple accessories can add so much to an outfit.

The celebrity I find most beautiful is…
I think Kate Bosworth is gorgeous and has a great sense of style.

The first movie I watched on a date was…
Pleasantville… on my first date ever.

One or two things some people may not know about Erin Kaplan…
My hair is naturally ridiculously curly….ringlets.

Thank you Erin for brilliant interview!

Visit Elle Magazine  at www.elle.com
Learn about MTV’s The City at mtv.com

Who is this Snooki girl and do we care? Snooki, star of MTV’s reality series Jersey Shore managed to get all our attention and I’m not sure why. Are we all just sucked into the hype?  “But he  (The King) isn’t wearing anything at all!”? (The Emperor’s New Clothes a tale by by Hans Christian Andersen)? I’m even feeling guilty posting this:) 

More ‘guilt’: Watch how Alyssa Milano transforms into a Snooki girl. Fascinating!

Cast of The Hills and The City were spotted in New York City last night for their season’s finale party.

Which celebrity look is your favorite?

From left: MTV’s The Hills stars Lauren “Lo” Bosworth and Audrina Patridge

MTV’s The Hills star Kristin Cavallari

From left: MTV’s The City stars Roxy Olin and Whitney Port

Olivia Palermo of MTV’s The City, Joe Zee, Creative Director of ELLE, and Tia Cibani, Creative Director of Ports 1961  host an exclusive presentation of the Ports 1961 pre-spring collection at Bloomingdale’s. I’m gutted not being able to make it. But you are invited, especially if you live in the New York area!

WHEN & WHERE: 
Thursday, November 12th
TIME: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, Designer Collections on 4

Designer Rachel Roy has built a following for not only her beautiful designer and diffusion collections (Rachel | Rachel Roy is available in Macy’s stores across the U.S. and on RachelRoy.com) but also her amazing personal style and beauty. Talking Makeup has the scoop on how Rachel expresses her Indian ancestry through her makeup, and as well as her personal tricks to looking bright, fresh and flawless.

BTW- I loved watching Rachel Roy in one of the episodes of MTV’s The City. Are you also a fan?

Q. Have you picked up any great beauty tips or tricks that you can share?
RR: I feel a great mascara can open the eye and instantly make you look as though you’ve have a good night’s sleep, even when that is not the case. I use 2-3 coats of Lancome’s Fatale on the top, bottom, and also on the back of the top lashes.

Q. Do you have a beauty signature? A fragrance or a lip color that you just love to wear?
RR: Because of my Indian ancestry, I love darkly rimmed eyes – a messy eye adds a sexy yet natural look to a classic outfit. To make the eyes smoky, I use Revlon’s Luxurious Color Kohl eyeliner in Black Truffle on the inside of the lids.

Q: What about a lip color that you just love to wear? What do you put on to achieve your favorite look?
RR: Bright lipstick is a way to quickly pop an outfit and freshen up a look a la Ava Gardner in “The Barefoot Contessa.” My favorite bright is MAC’s Morange lipstick – it’s a great way to add a twist to a classic look.

Q. Any last bits of advice?
RR: Another way to make your face pop is to fill in the eyebrows. I use Bobbi Brown’s eye shadow in Navajo.

MTV’s The City star Olivia Palermo was spotted recently with darker hair color (see right image below)! What happened to Olivia’s Jennifer Aniston-esqe or Gisele-esqe hair color, I wonder. Maybe  her new light brown hair is something to do with fall:) 

Anyone is missing Olivia Palermo’s honey blonde hair color?

Few months ago I interviewed for Beauty Interviews the multi-talented host, actress and singer Layla Kayleigh from the hit MTV series “America’s Best Dance Crew” with Randy Jackson (airs Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT).

In the interview, Layla Kayleigh talks to me about some of her best kept beauty secrets, the two women celebrities she finds most beautiful, her favorite way to relax, and why does she think Randy Jackson the executive producer of “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV is so amazing.

I keep my hair beautiful thanks to…
“Enjoy” is a line that I absolutely love because it’s Sulphate-free, which is awesome- I’m a huge fan. Kerastase is also fantastic, they have this amazing hair oil that works wonders and doesn’t make your hair greasy (especially for people with ethnic or coarse hair like myself).

My favorite skincare products are…
There is a spa in LA called Vera Bella- they have a green tree oil moisturizing gel I use- it’s awesome because it helps get all the impurities out of my skin. I also love Decleor Rose oil, I use it at night and my skin is super soft.

I get my eyelashes looking long, full, and sexy using…
It’s genetics! They were so long when I was younger I used to cut them! Now I love them, but there is a mascara I live by- “Voluminous” by L’Oreal- it’s cheap, better than anything I’ve tried and lasts all day without flaking.

The best lip-gloss I ever owned…
“Tangerine” by Bobbi Brown- best color ever!

My signature fragrance is…
Something light and clean. CK One or Cool Waters for women by Davidoff

The one beauty product you will always find in my purse is…
My Shu Uemura eye lash curler!

My number one beauty secret is…
Moisturize moisturize moisturize!

The celebrity I find most beautiful is…
Salma Hayek- usually actresses are not as perfect in person, but when I met Salma, I couldn’t stop staring at her! The woman is flawless. Her inner beauty and intelligence are captivating. She’s very classy and I respect that. Christie Brinkley is another woman I admire; she’s aged graciously and when she smiles she lights up the room. I love that about her.

My favorite way to relax…
Turn off my phone and spend time with my dogs…I love to drive around and contemplate the blessings in my life

I am currently working on…
“America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV every Thursday night at 10pm. Randy Jackson is our executive producer, and he has been amazing. He is extremely hands on/ involved and really cares about the show. We have such an outstanding cast and crew that I’m just happy to be part of such an awesome show that I’m also a fan of!

It was great to discuss beauty secrets with Layla make sure to check out America’s Best Dance Crew official website: www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew  and also Layla’s own website www.laylakayleigh.com