BlackBook Magazine

Before you and your girlfriends (both biological ladies and those of the "Hey, gurl," bitchslapping, goatee-wearing variety) get sloshed on cosmopolitans and venture out to see the "Sex and the City" movie, you had better protect your peepers with a good long lasting mascara—one that'll last through tears, sweat, humidity, and Bradshaw backlash. Hop to your nearest Clinique counter and pick up Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing Formula, a bargain at only $14 but a priceless insurance policy for beauty.

If the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn't, and you really want it, stuff it. Too bad the same rule doesn't apply for sunglasses, I just wish people understood that! Topping the list of my pet peeves are people who wear sunglasses that look absurd, but right under that are those who wear glasses that are inappropriately shaped for their face.

As my favorite season approaches, despite all the amazing summery things I look forward to, there are three inevitable occurrences I dread. The first are those sudden thunderstorms that ruin suede loafers ("But there was no rain in the forecast!"). The second is when, as you're waiting for the subway in the sweltering heat, the train pulls up and you notice a car with only one or two people in it, and think, "Score!" only to be met by a rush of disappointing, equally hot air, realizing this car's air conditioning is broken. The third, and this is, by far, the worst, is the dawn of what I like to call, "window-screen shoe season," when the little abhorrent gems (pictured left) make appearances all over the city, on the feet of the most variable wearers.

Whether your running shoes merely act as slippers for your morning commute or fulfill their destiny blazing the trails of Central Park, they should be as influenced by your personality as the rest of your wardrobe. And with thousands of options in thousands of colors, you'd think the ideal color combo would be out there. Well, now it is—check out NikeiD, where you can choose from a whole slew of kicks, from basketball to dance to running, and customize every part of the shoe, from tongue to swoosh. After you've played fashion designer, a brief wait, and they're delivered right to your door.

Seeing as how the best part of spring is what nature provides—the leaves on the trees, beautiful flowers, and fresh foliage—I was inspired to seek out a more natural approach to skincare. Now, don’t get me wrong—when it comes to heavy results, a little ‘tox here and a little squirt there does a complexion good, but on a day-to-day basis, when city girls breathe in enough pollution on the way to work alone, it’s time to pay more attention to what we put in our bodies. And on our skin.

On a recent trip to Paris, I noticed something that never quite caught my eye before, at least not in the last 10 years. Rollerblades! These quintessential accessories/modes of transportation of the '90s were ubiquitious, in every color, and donned by every type of person, from the grungy Parisian underbelly to a pantsuit-clad doyenne of Avenue Montaigne. I almost felt outnumbered, left out. Does this mean I'll pack lightly next time, accommodating my archaic, silver and black blades? And risk leaving behind those gold burnished Dolce & Gabbana loafers I've grown into? Not very likely.

Girls, summer is practically upon us. It's time to put away all that heavy holiday makeup in favor of spring’s lighter, more natural formulations! I’ve searched far and wide for the best and brightest, and I now present them to you!

First we’ve got the Collection Essential de Chanel ($85). You shouldn’t really call anything that bears the double-C logo “all-in-one,” but that’s exactly what it is. Four eyeshadows, a blush that’s perfect for all skin tones, two glowy lipsticks, and two flirty lipglosses give you all you need for the next morning, making those summer flings all the more glamorous.

This week's obsession is, hands down (or should I say, feet down?), the Nike+ iPod running partner. No, it's not tall, dark, and handsome. And it won't massage your barking dogs post-run, but it will provide you with unconditional support, up-to-date statistics, and a constant flow of motivational music. Simply stick the chip in your Nike+ running sneakers, pop on the iPod, and hit the road. The Nike+ gives you goals based on time, distance, and calories. And, as you run, it gives you periodic progress reports. My favorite part is what's known as the "power song," a track you choose prior to your workout that gives you that extra burst of motivation the last mile usually requires.

She may be a timeless style icon—and know how to work a pole—but Dita Von Teese is as down-to-earth as the girl across the street.

There she is, lounging on a bed in plain sight. The sight of her, however, is anything but. Burlesque brunette Dita Von Teese started out as a ballerina. She then ditched the pirouettes, sort of, to undress alongside her best friend and a room of bottle-blonde strippers at a local club. Somehow, Teese's tenacity has seen her through her Bettie Page beginnings all the way past her failed marriage to Marilyn Manson. Below, we sidle up next to Teese to talk corsets, cheetahs, and tabloid piranhas.

Awake debuts its three newest players in the antioxidant-driven game against aging.

Since ancient times, lavender has been prized for its spectrum of benefits--the Egyptians used it for its aromatherapeutic essences, and the French infused its earthy, floral perks into its cuisine and culture. Now the Japanese masters behind Awake Cosmetics have harnessed a powerful polyphenol (read: super antioxidant) from the delicate purple flower and made a skincare range that's as luxuriously beneficial as it's easy to use.