Archive: August 16th, 2007

Courtesy of Elizabeth Arden

Mariah Carey has topped the pop charts for almost two decades, and now she’s setting out to conquer the fragrance world with her first signature scent, M by Mariah. With the fragrance just hitting shelves, Mariah chatted a little about the process of making a scent with PEOPLE. Buy the fragrance for yourself, $63 at elizabetharden.com.

What was it like collaborating with Elizabeth Arden?
“It was so much fun working with Elizabeth Arden. I mean, I never expected such a huge corporation to feel like a family. and that’s what it feels like to me. Like every time I work with them, they’re so welcoming in terms of the concepts. If I have an idea or something that inspires me, there’s never a time where they’ve been like ‘No, we hate that.’ Every single person from Arden has been fabulous.”

Did you tell them what your favorite scents were?
“Before I went there, I told them some of my favorite smells, and I described the Tiare flower — and they actually knew what it was. They had never used it as a base for any person before. When I got there, there was this huge board of all the things that I said that I loved. The thing about the blue grotto, Capri, and just all these references that I had given them. The sunset. It looked like it was a done finished thing. I didn’t realize how next level it was going to be. It was really amazing.”

So then you went back and forth with the perfumers? Did it take a couple of tries?
Well, we went to a few different perfumers and every time we would test a different fragrance. It was very similar to writing and recording a song for me. And not everybody realizes that I write my own songs — and they definitely don’t realize that I produce them. It’s a process that I’m really used to. They have told me that no one has been this involved in creating their own fragrance before. So I was like ‘Oh, that’s cool.’”

Where do you spray the perfume?
What I do is I spray it — and then walk into it.

Humberto Carreno/startraks

Stars carrying oversize bags is nothing new — from Jessica Simpson to Mary-Kate Olsen to Nicole Richie, big bags have taken over Hollywood. So it says a lot when a hefting bag stops us in our tracks. We cannot stop staring at Cameron Diaz’s Chanel denim bag — it’s practically big enough to be a suitcase (and at $1395, that wouldn’t be a bad way to make the most of it!). Her Pierre Hardy metallic saddle bag, worn on her other arm, is a lot more our speed. But we want to know what you think! Tell us: Would you wear Cameron’s denim Chanel bag? Do you wear bags that big?

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Everyone has that one product that they just can’t imagine making it through their day without. We asked a few of our favorite stars what their star product was — and of course, we had to find out how you could buy it for yourself! Make sure to check out the September issue of StyleWatch to find out what products Hilary Duff, Tyra Banks, and other celebs can’t live without too.

“I’m just obsessed with my Yves Saint Laurent mascara. What can I say!” –Katharine McPhee
Available for $24 at amazon.com

“I am obsessed with the CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Compact Foundation, which I created with the help of my makeup artist. It contains less titanium dioxide than other foundations, so it delivers a glowy color without that ashy look.” –Queen Latifah
Available for $9 at drugstore.com

“There’s this great tanning lotion from DuWop called Revolotion. It has SPF 15 and makes you skin look tan and bronzed in a really gorgeous way.” —Daisy Fuentes
Available for $25 at duwop.com

“Neutrogena, of course. I always use the Acne Stress Control Foaming Wash, which smells like it has green tea in it. It makes my face feel fresh and cool and I love it. I use it morning and night.” –former Miss USA Susie Castillo
Available for $8 at drugstore.com

“Shu Uemura’s eyelash curler. It’s life changing. I’m a totally different person now that I own one.” –Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton
Available for $18 at nordstrom.com

“My splurge and obsession is Creme de la Mer. It’s the best face moisturizer ever.” –Kelly Pickler
Available for $110 (1 oz.) at cremedelamer.com

Roger Karnbad/Celebrity Photo, Vince Flores/Celebrity Photo

It’s time to say goodbye to skinny eyebrows! Bold brows were all over the fall runways, and now stars like Camilla Belle and Hayden Panettiere are adopting this sophisticated look. To pull off the style, you do need to maintain perfectly groomed brows, which is not as much work as you might think. The first step is to clean them up by plucking stray strands. Try to stick with your natural shape; the point, after all, is to not over-pluck. The Tweezerman Go Green Mini Slant Tweezer, $10 at drugstore.com, is totally packable, making it perfect for on-the-go touch-ups. Next, add definition and fill in sparse patches with either a brow powder or pencil. Try Sonia Kashuk Brow Kit Arch Alert Palette, $10 at target.com, which comes with four different shades or the Brenda Christian Universal Brow Definer, $18 at brendachristian.com, a pencil that works on all hair colors. If you’re short on time, get a similar effect with a colored brow gel like DiorShow Brow Fixing Gel, $17 at sephora.com. Instant polish!

Dara Kushner/INF(2)

The September issue of StyleWatch reveals how to achieve this fall’s fierce-but-ladylike look with the “in” piece of the season — a short leather jacket! It’s the perfect way of mixing uptown chic with downtown edge. Claire Danes is spot-on with her unlikely combo — a Prada chocolate bomber adds just the right dose of tough-girl attitude to her sweet dress and feminine heels. Want an easy way to add a twist — and a touch of rugged toughness — to a white tee and jeans? Try a cropped version like Katherine McPhee’s YaYa Aflalo jacket. Try a few of our favorites:

a.n.a. Leather peplum jacket, $100 at jcpenney.com

Luxe leather jacket, $90 at metrostyle.com

Banana Republic trenchlet, $328 at banarepublic.com

Gap Product Red white leather jacket, $150 at gap.com

Also check out Wilsons Leather at wilsonsleather.com — it’s a place to find a variety of great, affordable options!

WALLACE/PHOTOMUNDO/GLOBE; Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

We usually think of Mandy Moore as having a sweet style that effortlessly merges classic pieces with a bohemian flair, like her easy jeans and layered top combo at the Revlon Run/Walk event in Los Angeles. But she turned up on Tuesday night to the N.Y.C. premiere of her new movie Dedication looking every inch the big screen vixen! From her tousled curls and deep crimson lips to her clinging Dolce & Gabbana corset dress and Christian Louboutin pumps, Mandy was looking seriously sexy. But even as hot as she looked, we couldn’t help missing the Mandy that we’ve come to love over the years. But we want to know what you think! Tell us: Do you like Mandy better casual chic or all glammed up?