Chic Galleria » Arts & Entertainment

Interview with LA’s Hottest “Life-Stylist” and Fashionista – Nikki Joel

Rithanie Gonzales — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:55:08 +0000

Los Angeles’ #1 “life-stylist,” humorist, life-expert, fashionista, and confidant to the stars, Nikki Joel aka “Miss Lemonaid,” (already seen on DR. DREW, GOOD DAY LA, etc.) whose humorous perspective, versatile advice, and unsurpassed wit are the best reasons to view her must-read blog, LIFESTYLELEMONAID.COM. LIFESTYLELEMONAID.COM covers everything from steamy relationship advice and “sexcapades” to beauty tips, and fashion must-haves. Additionally, it features “Lifestyle Lemon Drops,” – video content showing viewers Miss Lemonaid’s newest and hottest obsessions for the stylish, sexy career woman on-the-go. In fact, the blog is so well-received that she’s currently in talks with production companies to transform the blog into a TV show. She is fabulous, magnetic, inspiring, racy, always honest, and all the rage in Beverly Hills.

What are your tips to effectively organize your closet?

I separate by season and organize everything by color. Skinny jeans go in one pile, color in another, wide leg, and so forth. Shoes, purses, jewelry, and all other accessories are laid out. Then, I put everything that I’m not currently wearing downstairs in my garage. I’ve also worked with ACLOTHESCALL.COM. These celebrity stylists are amazing! They sort through your closet and tweak the clothes that you already own to give you a new, fresh, and updated wardrobe.

What are your favorite summer trends? How would you wear these trends to work, on a date, or with the kids?

I love color! I don’t wait for the trend to be color. Right now, I am big on neon, colored denim, and stripes. I also like to mix patterns and textures. Guys don’t usually notice “the new trends,” so I think dressing in what you’re most comfortable in is always trendy and perfect for work or a date. Also, I always wear chains and Palm Beach 60’s style big necklaces as statement pieces. No matter what the occasion, lots of big and bright costume jewelry is a must. When I’m with the kids, I usually wear jeans with colorful flats or a wedge.

What is the perfect attire for an interview or black tie affair?

You can never go wrong with a great pair of jeans and a cute jacket. Zara has amazing, affordable blazers in a variety of colors. I usually pair that with a J. Crew silk camisole (I have one in every color), and then add jewelry of course. I also change purses a lot. As for a black tie affair, I like to stand out. So I never wear black, always a colored dress.

What is purple shampoo and what are the benefits to blondes using it? Do you have any shampoo suggestions for brunettes?

Purple shampoo is an amazing creation that takes the brass out of blonde hair. However, big warning- if you leave it on for too long you’ll look like a grandma with silver hair. Don’t let it soak while you’re shaving your legs! My favorite shampoo for anyone is Kiehls. It’s cheap, moisturizes, and never makes the hair feel dirty. Also, shampoos with Avocado Oil and Argan Oil are fantastic for any hair type.

What’s your take on rose gold highlights? Can anyone get them? What do you think of the ombre look? Is it still trending for the summer?

Rose gold is fun, not classic (not for “statement look”), but a fun trend (like chalking). I think an ombre looks dirty and unkempt. The trend is on its way out. Roots are the number one thing on my maintenance list.

What are your favorite makeup products and why? What makeup looks are trending for the summer? What is the ultimate summer color palette for eyes?

Where do we even begin? Everything from Senna Concealer, Koh Gen Do’s moisture foundation, and all Hourglass products are great. I wear Laura Mercier’s Oleander cream blush and Almay’s eyeliner in black. Also, never forget color! I recommend a NARS lipstick in hot pink for summery bright colored lips. A sheer pop of color on the cheeks is eye-catching as well. However, leave the bronzer behind when wearing coral or pink blush.

What nail colors do you like best for the summer? What are your favorite nail art designs? Do you have any tutorials and if so could you please share one with our readers?

Glittery hot pink nail polish is my favorite color for summer. I love Gel polish! It lasts so much longer. Whenever I go to the salon, I make sure to wear sunscreen on my hands. Ask for latex gloves with the fingers cut out to protect your hands in the UV dryer. Some places use LED lights to harden the gel nails. Safety is a part of beauty!

Any last tips for our readers?

The Pressed Juicery! They are located in Malibu, Brentwood, and just opened up in West Hollywood. The juice is a 3-day cleanse that actually works. There is a wide selection of flavors to choose from, and the detox is gentle on your system. It helps with weight loss and restores all necessary nutrients to your body. I always feel healthier and more energized after this cleanse. It’s so delicious that you won’t even realize you’re dieting!

Nikki Joel, the former talent agent always felt connected to the glitz and glam of the entertainment industry. Now, as a busy style icon and mother of two, Joel takes her former contacts to the next level where she shares everything she knows about life, style, beauty, and fashion with her exclusive inner circle to the everyday woman. One day, after an especially juicy gossip session with girlfriends, one suggested she share her life on a blog. This was the impetus to LIFESTYLELEMONAID.COM, an outlet to share her glamour daily.

In her rare free time, this UC Berkeley alum and chic LA resident can be found spending time with her family, volunteering with the “1 Voice” foundation helping to eliminate childhood cancer, and staying fit at her local Pilates studio.

Rithanie Gonzales is the Editorial Planning Manager for Chic Galleria. She is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in English Lit. Internally, writing is something she’s always been passionate about and seeks to work in fashion pr. Other than school and interning, Rithanie has her own blog and you can follow her on twitter @ritgonz

Play by Your Rules: Tips to Living True to Yourself

Haley Mathisen — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:58:46 +0000

Kathie Truitt, author of The Hillbilly Debutante Café, one day found herself jobless and homeless, a paradoxical opportunity to completely turn her life around; a second chance. Kathie says, “I got rid of the socialite sweater sets, the business suits and pumps, which were not me, and went to what is me – vintage dresses and cowboy boots… I surround myself with the things I like; I have a country-style house, I drive a pickup, and, once a month, I take a ride out to one of the places featured in Southern Living magazine.”

You don’t have to have a lot of money to live a life truer to your spirit. Truitt offers some suggestions:

Make location a state of mind. Does your heart yearn to be somewhere else? If you can’t follow your heart, bring that place to you. If you love all things Paris, for instance, decorate a room or your whole home Parisian style, ride a bicycle, or take a French class and maybe you’ll meet some like-minded friends.

Turn your passion into a career. You don’t have to give up your day job to pursue a career doing what gratifies and satisfies you. Whether you dream of writing a novel, designing jewelry or being a race car driver, working at it even part-time will help you feel fulfilled.

Take the plunge and start your own business. In 2011, entrepreneurs started 543,000 new businesses each month. With all the tax breaks and incentives being offered to small businesses now, it’s a good time to open that restaurant you always wanted, or launch that graphics design studio. You’ll never know until you try!

Though Truitt yearns for her hometown, El Dorado Spring, MO, she makes the best of her new life in Washington D.C., where she wrote a novel about a small town facing financial trouble. “There are many ways to live your dreams” says Truitt, “You’re limited only by your imagination. I don’t want to be that person looking back on my life and regretting that I lived it by someone else’s rules.”

Where will you find yourself?

Kathie Truitt is a former radio personality and speaker in the South, where she was crowned Mrs. Missouri America. She’s the author of False Victim, a memoir about the nightmare of events that forced her from her home. She sells vintage-style clothing, accessories and jewelry.

A Fashion Fundraiser to Remember

Haley Mathisen — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:54:02 +0000

Paris, Milan, and Columbus, Ohio. The latest fashions by the newest generation of designers hit the runway at the annual Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) 2012 Senior Fashion Show. Fifty-four designs by 15 senior design students were selected by a jury of fashion industry executives to be shown on the runway for the annual event, which is expected to net $200,000 for the CCAD general scholarship fund.

“This signature event showcases the work of our talented students to the creative industry employers, and helps us fund the educations of the next group of students,” said Laurie Beth Sweeney, CCAD vice president for Advancement. “Sponsors are investing in creative talent by supporting this event. In addition to fashion designers, students produce the fashion photography and design the 60-page show catalogue and promotional materials. All the models for the show are CCAD students as well.”

Each year, senior fashion design students are given a specific art challenge to interpret in their design collections. For 2012, students were assigned to choose a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional artist from the same time period as their muse. Designers presented up to six completed garments from their collections to the jury March 1. The jury chose 54 for the runway show.

“I think it’s great exposure for students at CCAD this year more than ever, because every year the show continues to get bigger, with more sponsor and more national recognition,” said designer Rachel Cass. “It’s perfect for students who haven’t locked down where they are going after graduation.”

Among students’ muses were Salvador Dali, Gustav Klimpt, Georges Braque, Georgia O’Keeffe, Max Ernst, Vincent Van Gogh and Yinka Shonibare.

A big congratulations to designers Rachel Cass, top student and recipient of the Easton Fashion Award, Tasha Naneth Bolton, Tasha Dircksen, Alyssa Johnson, Rachel Kaplan, Sarah Pruden, Skyler Riggins, Kristin Rose, Nuonan Ruan, Annika Simmons, Amanda Mae Smith, Joella Stallard, Jennifer Tang, Michele Watson and Shirley Weng.

A Tour of Singapore

Sarah Schweppe — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:09:15 +0000

I would love to visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The gardens make up seven acres of land and consist of an array of trees, flowers, and fauna from around the world. Three lakes provide perfect spots for picnics or relaxing walks.

Thinking about the beauty makes me want to hop on a flight to Singapore. And, really, there is so much to do there that I just might!

There are many other cultural opportunities: The Asian Civilisations Museum, one of the best museums in Singapore, has amazing artifacts from Asian countries. Learn about the history of China, India, Malaysia and Singapore.

The recently reopened National Museum of Singapore is also a fantastic educational center with multimedia displays, large walk-through exhibits, and artifact collections.

Don’t miss out on Thian Hock Keng Temple, an old and truly significant Chinese temple in Singapore, originally built by the first Chinese sailors who arrived to the shores of Singapore.

Before you leave, check out Singapore Zoo — an animal park in the west of the island. The zoo has Asian animals as well as those from Australia, Africa and North America. The best part is the Night Safari, a separate section of the zoo, which has an open enclosure with different species of animals living together.

You’ll never be bored in Singapore!

Photos from Time.com, Timeoutsingapore.com, and Panoramio.com.

Sarah Schweppe is an editorial intern for Chic Galleria. She’s interested in publishing and editing, but, in the meantime, she is a junior studying Creative Writing at the University of Washington and spends a lot of her time on journalistic pursuits. Follow her on twitter @cgSarahS and visit her blog.

Classic Crete

Sarah Schweppe — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:07:52 +0000

If you want to truly see history, consider a trip to Crete.

The Palace of Knossos, a labyrinth of massive columns and beautiful frescoes, is the legacy of the sophisticated Minoan civilization that disappeared sometime in the 15th century BCE. It was also home to the mythical Minotaur of King Minos, according to legend.

The site was restored extensively by the famous archaeologist Arthur Evans in the early 1900s and remains a great tourist attraction for the island.

It’s not all about the history though. The diverse nature also awaits you on a Crete holiday.

The Botanical Park provides a lovely tour of the region’s nature. Since a fire burnt much of the land in 2003, the park has been replenished to be one of the most beautiful spots on the island.

More than 150 species of fruit trees, dozens of herbs, medicinal, and ornamental plants, rare samples of the local flora and fauna make the Botanical Park a magical experience.

Photos from Artoffresco.com and Alisonquine.com.